For Pan Hu’s exclamation, Nie Kong offered no reply, though he paid it no mind internally. In that scenario, merely sensing the summons of Elder Chi Lian of the Scarlet Star Clan and rashly drawing near, who knew what calamity might have unfolded?

Perhaps, just as Pan Hu suggested, he might have obtained all the Scarlet Star Clan’s inheritance, but that was only a possibility. If the current Patriarch of the Star Pan Clan could see through his origins, the Scarlet Star Elder might be equally capable of doing the same.

Back then, in the "Grand Venerable Spirit Realm," the Star Gods of the Star Pan and Scarlet Star Clans were slain by Spirit Gods originating from the Phantom Spirit Continent, and their corpses were sealed in the Nether Earth! Nie Kong hailed from the Heaven Spirit Continent, which split from the Phantom Spirit Continent. Once his true identity was known to Chi Lian, whether he could still receive the Scarlet Star Clan’s inheritance was highly uncertain; it might even lead to unforeseen danger.

Just like the present moment: despite Pan Hu’s benevolent expression, gentle words, and recounting of the events ten millennia ago, Nie Kong still could not determine his true intentions. After all, he was the Patriarch of the Star Pan Clan; how could he not despise those intrusive Spirit Gods?

With intense resentment toward all related parties, everything became precarious.

Pan Hu seemed to read Nie Kong’s mind and chuckled, “Nie Kong, there is something you might not believe. My Star Pan and Scarlet Star Clan’s Star Gods held no real hatred for those Spirit Gods. Disputes over interests leading to life-or-death struggles are common. What we truly hated was the Immortal Star Clan! Your ability to sense Chi Lian’s summons at the War God Mountain indicates a profound destiny with the Scarlet Star Clan. Even if my old friend can discern your origins, he would still grant you the inheritance, not trouble you over the events of ten millennia ago.”

“Oh.”

Nie Kong responded with a smile, making no further argument, simply gazing quietly at Pan Hu, as if to say, If the Elder of the Scarlet Star Clan won't make things difficult, what about you, Patriarch of the Star Pan Clan? Bringing me here certainly wasn't just to tell me stories from ten thousand years ago, was it?

Seeing this, Pan Hu displayed a hint of helplessness and said, “Nie Kong, you need not worry about me at all. The reason I invited you in, besides wanting to see the disciple of my old friend, is that I need a small favor.”

“A favor?”

Nie Kong let out a soft, self-mocking laugh. “Senior Pan Hu, according to the Nether Earth’s standards, I am merely a sixth-tier Black Spirit Master. By the Heaven Spirit Continent’s classification, I am only at the Void Spirit Realm—pathetically weak. You were a Star God in the ‘Grand Venerable Spirit Realm’ ten millennia ago; how could I possibly accomplish something you cannot?”

Pan Hu waved his hand, giving a wry smile. “Little fellow, you hold me in too high regard. In your eyes, I am incredibly powerful, but in reality, the cultivation I have recovered is, at most, one-tenth of what it once was. Moreover, even this one-tenth strength can only be exerted within the Nether Sea.”

Nie Kong showed some surprise. “Why is that?”

Pan Hu sighed. “You traversed my right arm for such a long time; you must know that my physical body has solidified into pure Dark Spirit Power elements beneath this Nether Sea. What has recovered now is only this heart. Can a heart act independently, separated from its body?”

“That is true.”

Nie Kong nodded, yet even so, he did not believe that Pan Hu’s request was truly a “small favor.” Although Pan Hu couldn't leave the Nether Sea, countless experts and powerhouses had entered over the past two millennia, some even reaching the “Heart of Flame” to extract Nether Fire. Just three months ago, Zhan Xinzi himself reached the depths of the Fire Source. Their cultivation was immense; surely asking them for help would be far better than asking himself. Yet, Pan Hu never disturbed them, choosing instead to approach him today—this entire situation felt deeply strange.

Pan Hu, however, chuckled softly. “Little fellow, the reason I sought you out is precisely because you possess the ability to help. If you are willing, I can grant you immense benefits.”

“What benefits?”

Nie Kong smiled casually. No matter how great the benefits, he needed to be alive to enjoy them.

“Your ‘Azure Moon Illusory Heart Orchid’ medicinal spirit possesses a soul but lacks a true body. I can help it condense its physical form and restore her peak strength within one month!” Pan Hu pointed to Qing Yue, who had already climbed onto Nie Kong’s shoulder, his voice filled with temptation.

“Wonderful, wonderful! Nie Kong, hurry and agree!” Qing Yue blinked, then broke into a radiant smile, clapping her small hands excitedly as she bounced on Nie Kong’s shoulder.

Although Nie Kong possessed the Essence of Spiritual Treasure, he had too many dependents, and after entering the Nether Earth, utilizing even a little of that essence required finding the right moment. To re-condense her physical body and restore her strength would take several years at best. Pan Hu only needed a month—where else could one find such a good deal? Furthermore, this bright red old man didn't seem to be lying.

Seeing Qing Yue jumping for joy, Nie Kong was both amused and frustrated. “Qing Yue, you are too naive. If he can offer such great benefits, the favor must not be easy to grant! You truly believe the ‘small favor’ he speaks of is something easily done?”

“Nanny, I was just deliberately playing along with him…”

Right—what if he failed to help and lost his life? Qing Yue snapped back to reality, her face flushing hot. She stubbornly huffed a couple of times, covering her embarrassment.

Seeing Nie Kong remain unresponsive, Pan Hu offered another lure, smiling broadly. “Little fellow, the water spirit you carry has weak sentience. I can, within a month, perfect its sentience and allow it to manifest a human form.”

“……” Nie Kong still offered no reaction.

“Your herb phantom, while miraculous, is weak. I have a method that can allow it to grow rapidly!” Pan Hu was not in a hurry, pointing toward Nie Kong’s brow.

“……” Nie Kong remained impassive.

“I can use a secret technique to contact Elder Chi Lian beneath War God Mountain, allowing you to obtain the complete inheritance of the Scarlet Star Clan, including the ‘Scarlet Star Battle Physique’!” Pan Hu stated once more.

“……”

“Your main body cultivates Dark Spirit Power, and your avatar cultivates mutated Wood Spirit Power. Today, both have achieved breakthroughs. I can, within a month, advance both your main body and avatar’s cultivation by another full tier! Little fellow, are you satisfied with these benefits I offer?”

Pan Hu maintained his smiling demeanor.

Within one month: condense Qing Yue’s body and restore her strength; achieve sentience and manifest a human form for the ‘Prison Fire Ghost Spring’; provide the path to quickly mastering the heart-intent of the ‘Violet Illusionary Spirit Incense’; aid in obtaining the entire Scarlet Star Clan inheritance; advance the main body to the seventh tier and the avatar to the Pill Spirit tier within one month…

These five benefits were indeed more tempting than the last.

The final point struck Nie Kong’s core weakness: was he not in the Nether Earth to raise his cultivation? Main body to the seventh tier, avatar to Pill Spirit—once the two fused, Nie Kong’s cultivation would undoubtedly soar far beyond the first stage of Pill Spirit. For the sake of enabling Hua Mei’s “Pill Soul Manifestation,” having Pill Spirit cultivation was the absolute minimum requirement; given enough time, the stronger the cultivation, the better.

Qing Yue’s eyes lit up, and a murmur echoed in Nie Kong’s mind. “To receive so many benefits just for a small favor, it’s too much of a waste to refuse! Besides, do we even have a choice now?”

“Yes, we have no choice.”

Nie Kong sighed inwardly. After being sucked into Pan Hu’s body by the Fire Source, he had lost all agency. Now, Nie Kong understood: Pan Hu listing all his unique attributes earlier was a show of force, designed to make him realize his opponent’s power. Now, offering such great benefits as bait ensured that anyone in Nie Kong’s position could not, and would not, refuse.

Unless one possessed the cultivation to suppress Pan Hu, which was clearly impossible; if he were that powerful, how could he have been drawn into this place?

Fortunately, one thing comforted Nie Kong: he was not entirely transparent before Pan Hu. At least Pan Hu was unaware of Xiang Xiang’s existence.

To this world, the ‘Violet Illusionary Spirit Incense’ was an anomaly. If Nie Kong had not been of Yin Ruins descent, and if Qing Yue and he had not been connected by the ‘Life and Death Spirit Seal,’ even the Wood Ancestor could not have known of Xiang Xiang, and Qing Yue certainly could not have sensed her.

This Pan Hu, despite his vast divine abilities, could not see Xiang Xiang, and perhaps this was the variable allowing Nie Kong a chance to escape.

With that thought, Nie Kong smiled. “Senior Pan Hu, what favor do you require of me?”

“Good! You are an intelligent person; I knew you wouldn't refuse.”

Pan Hu clapped his hands in delight and suddenly switched topics. “In the Nether Earth, above the ninth tier is the Spirit Venerable, equivalent to the Spirit God. Currently, the Nether Earth has only one Spirit God: the ‘Great Evolution Spirit Venerable.’ Nie Kong, you might assume that in the past ten millennia, no Black Spirit Master in the Nether Earth possessed the aptitude to break through to the Spirit God realm, but the truth is the exact opposite. Such individuals exist, and many of them, too. Zhan Xinzi, whom you sent to my heart, is one such person. Yet, none have ever achieved Spirit God status. Do you know the reason why?”

Nie Kong was puzzled. “Oh? Is there some underlying logic to this?”

“This is because of the Great Evolution Spirit Venerable.”

Pan Hu’s tone grew grave. “The Great Evolution Spirit Venerable was originally a ‘Recall Grass.’ Although it possessed sentience early on, with its aptitude, it could cultivate to the ninth tier at most—it had no chance of achieving Spirit God status. However, after the Nether Earth was sealed ten millennia ago, this world became saturated with death energy. This individual cultivated in such an environment and, astonishingly, thrived, becoming the first entity in the Nether Earth to break through to the Spirit God realm.”

“After achieving Spirit God status, this person commanded all sects in the Nether Earth to erect statues in her honor, absorbing the power of faith condensed by Black Spirit Masters. This in itself wasn't the issue, but she greatly enjoyed absorbing the insights formed when ninth-tier Black Spirit Masters attempted to break through to the Spirit God realm. Accumulating faith and insight power can indeed lead to breaking through to the Grand Venerable realm, but if insights are absorbed, those ninth-tier Black Spirit Masters will simply vanish into nothingness.”

“……”

Nie Kong was suddenly chilled to the bone. It was fortunate that no one on the Heaven Spirit Continent used such methods; otherwise, the number of Spirit Gods who had appeared would likely be pitifully small as well.

“This is why the Nether Earth has never seen a second Spirit God! This person has absorbed power for thousands of years and has already reached the peak of the Spirit God realm, just half a step shy of becoming a Grand Venerable. At that point, she might no longer need to absorb the insights of others, and perhaps the Spirit Gods of the Nether Earth could be born successively.”

“But, this person is not yet a Grand Venerable, and she has already set her sights on us Star Gods!”