Seeing this, Zhan Feihong was filled with frustration. However, since Nie Kong himself refused to leave, they couldn't force him away, yet giving up entirely felt deeply unsatisfying.

Zhan Feihong opened his mouth, about to try persuading Nie Kong again, but Zhan Baisong waved his hand, smiling faintly. "Forget it, forget it. Since Nie Kong insists on cultivating here, we will wait here with him until the 'Heart of Flames' is about to sink, and then leave together. We brought plenty of 'Void Valley Pills' anyway; they should last us two or three months easily."

At the level of Zhan Feihong and Zhan Baisong, they wouldn't starve even if they went without food for many days elsewhere. But in the 'Nether Sea Fire Source,' that wasn't the case. They couldn't absorb the pervasive death energy here, and without sustenance, they could barely hold on for half a month at most.

The 'Void Valley Pills' easily solved this problem. Unlike the Nether Pills specifically designed to boost cultivation, while these pills had success rates mentioned, failure was almost impossible after taking them; the only variation was the efficacy. Even the weakest 'Void Valley Pill' was enough to allow someone to remain comfortably in the 'Heart of Flames' for three full days without hunger.

Thus, upon hearing Zhan Baisong’s words, the others reluctantly agreed, successively sitting cross-legged around Nie Kong, resigned to their situation.

Sensing the movement around him, a slight curl appeared at the corner of Nie Kong's lips, and his mind quickly settled. However, the previous delay had eased his urgency, so he didn't immediately activate the 'War God Star Seal' to absorb the surrounding death energy. Instead, he focused on sensing.

Nether Pill Masters possessing a seed were far more sensitive to the death energy in this area than ordinary Black Spirit Masters. Nie Kong, having recondensed a seed using the local nether-fire, possessed an ability in this regard that far surpassed that of the average Nether Pill Master.

Previously, Nie Kong could only sense boundless death energy saturating every inch of space here. But now, his perception had undergone a subtle, marvelous transformation…

The surroundings remained intensely saturated with death energy, yet this energy seemed to have decomposed into countless minute particles. These particles clustered densely, almost every single one containing a fierce and potent aura. They constantly roamed the void, colliding, merging, and even splitting apart…

"Are these… elemental energy particles?"

This thought flashed suddenly through Nie Kong's mind.

Death energy was also a form of spiritual energy. When dark spiritual energy reached its extreme, it became death energy. Since it belonged to spiritual energy, it too must be composed of countless spiritual energy elements.

Although Nie Kong knew the moment the seed was recondensed that its function was not limited merely to alchemy, he never expected it could elevate his perception within the 'Nether Sea Fire Source' to such an extreme degree. Before, the spiritual energy Nie Kong could perceive was a blurry chaos, but now that chaos was so distinct that even the smallest objects within it were fully revealed.

Without even testing it, Nie Kong could imagine the benefits such a change would bring to his cultivation.

In a flash of thought, Nie Kong’s mind calmed again. The status of every dark spiritual energy particle around him continuously unfolded in his mind… Gradually, these dark spiritual energy particles, under Nie Kong's sensing, seemed to transform into tiny living beings.

They possessed emotions, just like humans—joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.

Unconsciously, Nie Kong felt as if he had dissolved into their midst, sharing their joys and sorrows. Suddenly, Nie Kong noticed a slight tremor in his right palm. An incredibly profound connection had formed between the seed and the surrounding dark spiritual energy particles—it was…

"Attachment?"

These two characters flickered across Nie Kong's heart.

Immediately following this, as if children suddenly spotting their parents, the surrounding elemental particles erupted in joyous clamor and surged toward Nie Kong.

Nie Kong’s heart skipped a beat. He suddenly circulated the 'War God Star Seal,' and instantly, the nine Nether Stars flashed madly within his body. Wisps of mysterious fluctuation spread out, guiding the surging elemental particles, causing them all to converge toward the seed in Nie Kong's right palm.

When the first few thousand elemental particles rushed into the seed, the particles behind them showed no hesitation, following close behind. Through the seed in his palm, the previously ferocious particles miraculously became docile. Then, they split in two, a scorching aura seeping out through the pores on Nie Kong's body, while the purest dark spiritual energy particles were refined within him.

As for the vitality contained within those elemental particles, it was separated the moment of refinement and surged into the Spirit God Acupoints of his Second Incarnation.

The speed of refinement shocked even Nie Kong. However, after the initial shock, Nie Kong was filled with sheer ecstasy. With such divine speed, how could he worry about not reaching the Core Spirit Realm within the remaining year plus?

"This little fellow’s cultivation speed is incredible."

Zhan Baisong, Zhan Feihong, and the other six surrounding him sensed it almost simultaneously, their faces betraying their astonishment. In just a brief moment, the area around Nie Kong fluctuated violently; the death energy within a radius of several meters was completely absorbed.

A moment later, the fluctuating void expanded from a radius of several meters to over ten meters… In less than a minute, it had swept across the 'Heart of Flames' and continued to spread rapidly outward until it finally halted upon reaching that colossal mass of flame ahead.

By then, Zhan Baisong and the others could clearly see vast swathes of fiery red death energy surging toward Nie Kong from all directions. As Nie Kong absorbed them, faint traces of crimson aura permeated from his body, lingering without dissipating. Not long after, Nie Kong's entire figure was enveloped in a fiery red aura, appearing indistinct and shimmering.

After observing for a while, Zhan Baisong couldn't help but clap his hands in admiration. "If we only consider the speed of absorption and refinement, I fear even we old fellows cannot match Nie Kong."

Although Zhan Baifeng and the others remained silent, they couldn't help but nod secretly in agreement.

Especially Zhan Feihong. He had previously been desperate for Nie Kong to return to War God Mountain immediately to study alchemy systematically, but now he had to concede that Nie Kong’s decision to stay and cultivate was correct. Had he known Nie Kong could cultivate at this speed here, he would have fully endorsed Nie Kong's choice.

After all, while learning alchemy is crucial for a Nether Pill Master, improving one's cultivation is equally vital. Though high cultivation doesn't guarantee superior alchemy skill, low cultivation absolutely prevents one from reaching great heights in alchemy. To pass up such an excellent cultivation ground now would be too great a pity.

"If this little fellow cultivated here for ten years, what realm might his cultivation reach? Eighth stage… or perhaps Ninth stage…"

Thinking of this, Zhan Feihong’s spirit trembled. A Ninth Stage Nether Pill Master in their early thirties was a rarity in the ten-thousand-year history of the Nether Land, few enough to count on one hand. However, breakthrough required not just cultivation speed, but also indispensable comprehension and fortuitous opportunity, especially at higher levels. It might not be difficult for Nie Kong to reach the Sixth Stage within a year, but achieving the Ninth Stage in ten years would be exceedingly difficult.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Zhan Baisong let out a low cry, his face etched with shock.

The others observing Nie Kong immediately followed Zhan Baisong's gaze and saw that the huge, blazing flame was shaking violently. And with every sway, the tip of the flame shifted slightly closer to the 'Heart of Flames' beneath their feet.

Had Nie Kong’s cultivation actually agitated the fire source itself?

The crowd’s hearts sank, and they couldn't help but exchange glances, seeing only astonishment reflected in each other’s eyes.

The place with the densest death energy in the Nether Sea was undoubtedly that mass of flame.

However, the death energy contained within that flame was incomparable to the ubiquitous death energy filling the surrounding void. The aerial death energy was formless and invisible, flowing in as soon as it was absorbed. But the death energy there had already condensed into fire—tangible and substantial—how could it be drawn over so easily?

Yet, the scene that astonished Zhan Baisong and the others appeared quickly.

Two or three minutes later…

"Whoosh."

In a violent shudder, a fist-thick column of red fire erupted from the tip of the flame, which had bent its 'waist,' shooting out like a rainbow towards Nie Kong, enveloping him. In an instant, it poured into the fiery red aura surrounding his body.

Zhan Baige couldn't help but widen his eyes. "Is Nie Kong's newly condensed seed truly that miraculous? It can even absorb the fire source?"

Zhan Baisong, Zhan Feihong, and the others exchanged speechless glances. Fortunately, this area was too dangerous, and no Black Spirit Masters from other sects had followed them. Otherwise, the commotion Nie Kong was currently stirring up would surely cause tremendous upheaval across the Nether Land.

Nie Kong, unaware of his companions’ thoughts, let his emotions settle back to calm after the brief burst of ecstasy. He devoted his entire focus to circulating the 'War God Star Seal' and the 'Yin-Yang Spirit Devouring Art.'

The elemental particles converged continuously, like moths to a flame… The profound War Clan Golden Art, his robust physique, and the miraculous seed transformed Nie Kong into a black hole; no matter how much death energy gathered around him, it was all sucked into his body.

As time elapsed, both Nie Kong’s main body and his Second Incarnation experienced a frantic surge in cultivation. Suddenly, an invisible barrier manifested at the Spirit God Acupoints of the Second Incarnation, growing clearer as the intensity of the spiritual power increased.

Before long, under the impact of the spiritual power, that barrier began to waver and thin out.

"Boom."

Nie Kong moved his mind, and the spiritual energy surged back, causing the barrier to instantly dissolve.

Nie Kong's cultivation was already extremely close to the fifth rank of Spirit Control, so he wasn't surprised by this rapid breakthrough. At the very moment his incarnation achieved this breakthrough, Nie Kong's main body also reached the critical threshold of the fourth stage peak, with death energy roaring through his bones.

"Hoo."

Another, even thicker column of red fire separated from the flame ahead and was inhaled into Nie Kong in one go.

P: Many friends on Q asked me if I would have a burst of updates at the end of the month. After thinking about it, I decided not to do what I did last month. I want to avoid running out of steam after a big push, but I will release several extra chapters today.

... ...RA