Nie Kong found the term rather baffling. "The Sea of the Underworld Fire Source"—he knew of it; according to Zhan Tianlun, it was the origin point for all Underworld Fire within the Netherworld. "The Zhan Clan’s Fire Seed was collected from there." But what did that have to do with him?

Zhan Feihong spoke, "Little fellow, the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source is the origin of all Underworld Fire in this realm. If you could use the Underworld Fire from there to temper the Fire Seed within your body, coupled with your aptitude for alchemy, you would have a great chance of becoming a Pill King in the future."

"A Pill King?" Nie Kong was startled.

Seeing Nie Kong’s expression, Zhan Feihong finally felt a little vindicated. Which Underworld Alchemist could resist the allure of becoming a Pill King? After a brief pause, Zhan Feihong narrowed his eyes and smiled, somewhat smugly, "Now, are you interested?"

"Interested? Hardly."

Nie Kong slightly raised his eyelids, showing indifference.

The title of Pill King certainly possessed immense appeal. Of course, that premise applied only to alchemists of the Netherworld. Nie Kong was someone from the Tianling Continent. Even if he tempered his Fire Seed with the Underworld Fire from the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source and possessed the potential to become a Pill King, so what? When he returned to the Tianling Continent, what he needed to refine would not be Underworld Pills, but spiritual elixirs!

"You, you… you…" Zhan Feihong was so enraged his head swam, leaving him struggling for words. He pointed a trembling finger at Nie Kong, the tip nearly poking his forehead. He had expected this youngster to comply obediently once the benefit was made clear, but he never imagined Nie Kong would remain so utterly unmoved! That kind of temptation was something even he couldn't resist, yet Nie Kong displayed no interest whatsoever!

Zhan Baige and the other two were equally astonished; they had never encountered someone like this. Zhan Baige frowned slightly and couldn't help but ask, "Nie Kong, have you thought this through clearly?"

"Mm-hmm! Mm-hmm! Mm…" Zhan Tianlun coughed continuously, his throat practically smoking with urgency, but he immediately settled down under Zhan Feihong's sharp glare.

"I have thought it through."

Nie Kong smiled faintly. "Third Uncle, esteemed seniors, and Brother Zhan, I must continue my cultivation in the Underworld Spirit Valley; I cannot accompany you." As he spoke, Nie Kong bent down, picked up the medicine cauldron conjured by the little fellow, and walked toward the courtyard exit.

"..."

Seeing this, Zhan Feihong and Zhan Baige exchanged glances, feeling thoroughly deflated.

Tempering the Fire Seed at the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source was no simple task; those who assisted risked their very lives. They had spoken boldly at the Pill King Tower, having wrestled internally with the danger, yet Nie Kong seemed completely unfazed by the proposal.

To put it crudely, their warm welcome had met with Nie Kong's icy rejection. For a moment, all four felt a sense of frustration. But if even Nie Kong wasn't interested, were they expected to beg him to go to the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source—to court death?

"Wait!"

Just as Nie Kong was about to exit the courtyard gate, Zhan Feihong suddenly recalled the final words Nie Kong had spoken. A thought sparked in his mind, and he quickly called out loudly, "Little fellow, do you know where the concentration of Nether Power in our entire Netherworld is highest?"

Nie Kong acted as if he hadn't heard, walking straight out. "Heh, heh…" Seeing Nie Kong’s figure vanish from sight, Zhan Feihong couldn't help but let out a bitter chuckle. The youngster remained unmoved; he was truly starting to lose hope.

"Where?"

A few seconds later, a curious voice suddenly echoed from the courtyard entrance—Nie Kong’s figure had reappeared within Zhan Feihong’s sight.

"Huh?" Zhan Feihong was momentarily stunned. Was this kid’s reaction a bit too slow?

He didn't know that Nie Kong's mind had just been preoccupied with figuring out how to make the medicine cauldron in his hand disappear without drawing attention. He hadn't reacted immediately. It was only after walking more than ten meters that he suddenly realized Zhan Feihong’s "Nether Power" was actually referring to "Death Qi."

Nie Kong found Zhan Feihong’s question rather perplexing.

In his understanding, the places with the densest Death Qi in the Netherworld could only be the "Underworld Sources" occupied by the Supreme Orders Sects. But judging by Zhan Feihong’s tone, that didn't seem to be the case?

A moment later, Zhan Feihong snapped back to attention.

To think Nie Kong would turn back, Zhan Feihong was overjoyed, a flicker of hope rising in his heart. He immediately adopted a serious expression: "Within the entire Netherworld, there are two regions where the Nether Power is densest: one is the Ghost Domain, and the other is the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source!"

"Oh?" Nie Kong gasped in astonishment.

Nie Kong’s knowledge of both places was rather superficial. He only knew the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source was the origin of all Underworld Fire, and the Ghost Domain was the birthplace of all Underworld Beasts. That they were the places with the densest Death Qi was something he was hearing for the first time.

"Little fellow, you hadn't heard?"

A slight smile played on Zhan Feihong’s face. "If the Nether Power of the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source wasn't dense, how could it give rise to the initial Fire Seeds?"

At this point, Zhan Feihong’s tone was laced with temptation. Cultivating in a place of maximum Nether Power meant the speed of cultivation advancement would be incredible, certainly several times faster than in the Underworld Spirit Valley. However, to cultivate in the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source, one first needed to temper their Fire Seed with the Underworld Fire there. If one forcibly absorbed the Nether Power of that place otherwise, they would likely be burned to ashes.

Hearing Zhan Feihong bring up tempering the Fire Seed again, Nie Kong couldn't help but chuckle, yet he couldn't deny a stirring of excitement at his words. But quickly, a shade of doubt flashed in Nie Kong's eyes: "Third Uncle, I can't even enter the Zhan Clan's Underworld Source below the Sixth Tier. How could I possibly cultivate at the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source?"

"That you don't know."

Sharply sensing Nie Kong's wavering interest, Zhan Feihong’s spirits lifted, and he laughed heartily, "The Sea of the Underworld Fire Source is vastly different from other Underworld Sources. The Nether Power there has long since merged with the Underworld Fire. Since you are an Underworld Alchemist, if you temper your Fire Seed with that specific fire, you will encounter no obstacles absorbing the Nether Power of the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source—nor will there be any danger."

"Abandoning such a wonderful place?"

Nie Kong was greatly surprised and couldn't help looking toward Zhan Tianlun beside him. Seeing him vigorously nodding his head toward Nie Kong, he finally believed Zhan Feihong’s words completely.

"Little fellow, the Pill King from the Escape Heaven Sect back then was like you—a Fourth Tier Black Spirit Master—when he first entered the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source. Once the tempering of his Fire Seed was complete, he remained there to cultivate. Do you know his cultivation level when he finally left? Sixth Tier! From Fourth Tier to Sixth Tier, he only took a mere three months!" Zhan Feihong spoke with animated enthusiasm, adding further incentive for Nie Kong.

"So fast!"

Nie Kong’s heart leaped suddenly. Advancing two tiers in three months—this speed was indeed astonishing. Although Nie Kong had only taken a little over a month to reach the Fourth Tier since he started cultivating, relatively speaking, his speed was faster than that Pill King. But their circumstances were entirely different, making direct comparison moot; after all, he had already been a Spirit Controller and had absorbed Death Qi previously.

At this moment, Nie Kong could barely restrain himself any longer.

Nie Kong understood his situation clearly: reaching the Fifth Tier from the Fourth wouldn't take long, but progressing from Fifth to Sixth would be considerably more difficult. This was because once his main body's cultivation speed caught up to his "Second Incarnation," the two would have to maintain balance. At that stage, he would need to absorb both Death Qi and vital energy, and the cultivation speed would absolutely decrease significantly.

If the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source was truly as miraculous as Zhan Feihong claimed, let alone three months, even taking four or five months would be an incredibly worthwhile exchange.

Even without taking the shortcut, Nie Kong was confident he could advance his main body to the Seventh Tier and his Incarnation to Pill Spirit within two years, but completing his mission and leaving the Netherworld early was always preferable. After a moment's thought, Nie Kong couldn't help but ask, "Third Uncle, how far is it from here to the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source?"

"A five-day journey!"

Hearing Nie Kong’s question, Zhan Feihong knew the matter was settled. He let out a silent sigh of relief, smiling faintly, and held up three fingers before adding, "If we ask the Supreme Elder for assistance, three days at most would suffice."

Zhan Baige, Zhan Feixing, and Zhan Tianhe couldn't help the look of relief spreading across their faces, though they also felt a touch of irony. They hadn't expected this outer-sect disciple named Nie Kong to be such a cultivation fanatic. The allure of becoming a Pill King held no sway over him; instead, the prospect of advancing from Fourth to Sixth Tier in three months had ignited his urge to reach the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source.

A journey of three to five days—that was closer than the distance from Fubo Mountain to the Zhan Clan! Nie Kong immediately smiled, "In that case, what are we waiting for?"

Sensing the eagerness in Nie Kong's tone, Zhan Feihong found it slightly amusing. Earlier, he had been anxious and Nie Kong calm; now the situation was completely reversed—Nie Kong was eager, and he was suddenly less hurried. He deliberately spoke slowly, "Of course we are going, but…"

Nie Kong's mind raced, and he immediately understood. The old man’s sudden dilly-dallying was partly intentional—a way to "retaliate" for Nie Kong’s earlier nonchalance—but also because Nie Kong had one crucial thing left undone.

Therefore, Nie Kong quickly turned his gaze toward Zhan Baige, Zhan Feixing, and Zhan Tianhe, smiling, "Esteemed seniors, why don't we discuss those earlier questions first?"

Among the four high-ranking Underworld Alchemists of the Zhan Clan, only Zhan Feihong had personally witnessed Nie Kong's alchemy skills. Zhan Baige, Zhan Feixing, and Zhan Tianhe’s current impression of Nie Kong was based entirely on Zhan Feihong’s accounts. But hearing about it could never compare to seeing it firsthand. As long as he passed their test and earned their approval, heading to the Sea of the Underworld Fire Source would naturally not be difficult.

"Good!"

Zhan Baige and the other two exchanged smiles and nodded slightly, their anticipation growing for Nie Kong's upcoming demonstration. They secretly resolved that if this cultivation maniac’s aptitude for alchemy was truly as Zhan Feihong claimed, they absolutely had to change his mind. For the Zhan Clan as it stood, the value of a Ninth Tier Underworld Alchemist could hardly compare to that of a Pill King.