The deal with Pan Hu was settled, and Nie Kong no longer worried about gains and losses. Seeing Pan Hu immediately start granting him benefits sparked a certain curiosity in Nie Kong; he wondered how Pan Hu intended to help Qing Yue solidify her true form and recover her Celestial Spirit Realm strength within a month.

Pan Hu chuckled, "Little thing, let this old man see your true appearance."

Upon hearing this, Qing Yue's soul-formed body shifted, and a "Azure Moon Illusory Heart Orchid" instantly manifested. Though only palm-sized, its shape was precisely identical to the carving on the 'Spirit Sealing Stele.' It shone with a vibrant azure light, exquisitely beautiful and captivating.

"Very good."

Pan Hu nodded, his expression suddenly tightening. He turned back, grasping with his right hand, and the beating speed of the massive heart abruptly intensified.

"Thump-thump..."

Amidst the drum-like resonance, Nie Kong could clearly observe the vessels within the heart rapidly contracting. A moment later, traces of a blood-red substance began to seep into the vessels from the surroundings, gathering density. In less than a minute, the channels inside the heart were completely filled.

"Thump."

Following another intense beat, the blood-red substance suddenly burst forth from the vessels, spraying outwards in all directions. Nie Kong focused his gaze; the crimson matter was clearly liquid, resembling freshly drawn blood from a living body.

"Come!"

Pan Hu roared. The scattered blood particles swiftly gathered, then shot toward his right palm with lightning speed, like a long rainbow drawing water.

After entering Pan Hu’s right palm, the blood continuously condensed and shrank.

When the heart returned to calm, a blood pearl, the size of an egg, rested in Pan Hu’s palm. It was perfectly round, smooth, and soft, radiating a dazzling, intense crimson light.

Glancing at the blood pearl in his palm, Pan Hu nodded with satisfaction.

"Be ready, this old man is beginning now."

Turning back to face Qing Yue, who floated suspended in the void, Pan Hu waited a moment before softly chanting, "With soul as the source, blood as the root, and divine power as the guide... Coagulate the Spirit and Return the Divine." As he spoke, the blood pearl in Pan Hu’s right palm suddenly slammed down onto Qing Yue’s form.

"Boom!"

With a faint impact sound, the blood pearl instantly merged into Qing Yue’s body. Immediately following, a sphere of crimson light rapidly spread outward. In the blink of an eye, the palm-sized body of the "Azure Moon Illusory Heart Orchid" was completely enveloped in a blood-red hue.

At this moment, Qing Yue appeared as if she were entirely condensed from blood.

"Chii!"

Subsequently, Pan Hu rapidly tapped down with his right index finger. The instant his fingertip made contact with Qing Yue’s body, a flash of gold flickered and vanished into her.

That is Pan Hu’s divine power.

The thought barely crossed Nie Kong’s mind before he recalled Qing Yue’s painful gasp; it seemed that golden ray inflicted immense suffering upon her.

"Chii!"

Pan Hu’s index finger tapped down again.

"Aiya..."

Qing Yue’s piercing scream followed, sounding utterly heart-wrenching, causing Nie Kong, who shared the 'Life and Death Spiritual Seal' with her, considerable distress. As his lips parted slightly, Pan Hu seemed to know what Nie Kong was about to say. He waved his left hand slightly and stated gravely, "If you wish to condense your physical form and recover your former strength in such a short time, how can you avoid suffering a bit of hardship?"

After speaking, Pan Hu closed his eyes.

"..."

Nie Kong's anger almost solidified. Pan Hu’s words were not wrong. Shortcuts always demanded a price. It was similar to Spirit Masters on the Celestial Spirit Continent consuming elixirs to enhance their cultivation; low-grade elixirs brought great physical pain, and mid-to-high-grade ones also carried various dangers for the user. In Nie Kong's original estimation, Qing Yue would need at least several years to condense her physical body. Compressing several years into a single month naturally required a price in pain, which was understandable.

However, even saying that, hearing Qing Yue’s continuous screams echoing in his mind now made Nie Kong feel quite uncomfortable.

Qing Yue, this little spirit plant, had many quirks—a bit narcissistic and fond of boasting—but her nature was pure. Having spent so much time together, Nie Kong was extremely fond of her. After only a few cries, he couldn't bear to listen anymore. Yet, listen he must; Qing Yue’s voice reverberated directly in his mind; plugging his ears was useless.

"Chii!"

"Chii!"

"..."

Pan Hu raised and lowered his hand, the golden light at his fingertip constantly flashing, sending wisps of energy into Qing Yue’s body. Qing Yue's screams followed one after another, as if every injection of divine power was tearing her soul into shreds, making it unbearable for her.

Nie Kong didn't know how long had passed, but Pan Hu’s tapping slowed, and Qing Yue’s screams grew fainter.

"Huu."

About two minutes later, Pan Hu’s finger slowly descended. He let out a long breath, a hint of exhaustion subtly lingering around his brow.

"Done?"

Noticing that Qing Yue’s screams had ceased, Nie Kong finally let out a breath of relief. That preceding period was an unparalleled torment for Qing Yue, and equally so for Nie Kong. Because of the 'Life and Death Spiritual Seal,' Nie Kong felt the suffering much more intensely. By this point, he felt as if he had just been fished out of a pool, drenched in sweat and looking rather listless.

"How could it be that fast? Only three days have passed so far."

Pan Hu laughed sheepishly. "Nie Kong, cultivate here by yourself. This old man has expended too much divine power and needs a good rest. In ten days, I will grant you the second benefit." As he spoke, Pan Hu's figure transformed into a stream of fiery crimson energy, instantly merging back into the massive heart. The "thump," "thump" of its beating seemed to have quietly accelerated.

Looking at the heart, Nie Kong’s mind suddenly stirred. To expend that much divine power and require ten days to recover—was Pan Hu’s current strength perhaps not as formidable as he had initially imagined? The thought flashed and vanished. Nie Kong withdrew his gaze and looked toward Qing Yue.

At this moment, her palm-sized, blood-red body still floated in the void.

Beneath that layer of crimson, faint golden threads could be seen constantly weaving in and out, glittering brilliantly, dazzling to the eye. Gazing at any single spot for too long, one’s very mind felt as if it might be drawn into Qing Yue's form.

Nie Kong hastily shifted his sight, letting his gaze sweep over Qing Yue’s body.

A moment later, Nie Kong suddenly noticed that the tips of the "Azure Moon Illusory Heart Orchid’s" roots were losing their red color, revealing her original hue.

When the redness completely disappears, that should be the moment Qing Yue’s true form successfully condenses.

A smile touched Nie Kong's lips, and the tension in his heart finally eased. Qing Yue was now in deep slumber and likely wouldn't awaken until Pan Hu recovered his divine power... With this thought, Nie Kong calmed his mind and sat down cross-legged.

The concentration of Dark Spirit energy elements here surpassed imagination.

Cultivating here was undoubtedly far superior to the 'Heart of Flame' outside. However, since Qing Yue was undergoing 'Spirit Coagulation and Divine Return,' Nie Kong couldn't immerse himself entirely in cultivation. Thus, he awoke periodically to check on Qing Yue's condition before returning to his practice.

When Nie Kong awoke for the tenth time, the entire body previously covered in crimson had revealed Qing Yue’s true appearance.

At this rate, Qing Yue's true form should condense successfully. Nie Kong suppressed the joy rising in his chest and returned his focus to cultivation. Yet, after circulating the 'War God Star Seal' and the 'Yin-Yang Spirit Devouring Art' for barely two minutes, Nie Kong was startled awake by the abruptly intensified heartbeat.

Nie Kong quickly opened his eyes and saw a cloud of red mist rising from the heart. It then coalesced into a figure, Pan Hu, entirely crimson, who floated with a smiling face before Nie Kong, looking utterly refreshed, his entire being radiating vibrant life and vitality.

"Ten days have passed?"

Nie Kong couldn't help but ask.

"Indeed. Nie Kong, take out your Water Spirit; this old man is in a hurry." Pan Hu fixed his gaze on Nie Kong, his smile amiable, and spoke.

Nie Kong sprang up, retrieving the jade bottle crafted from the Spirit Nullifying Jade from his robes and uncorking it.

"Whoosh!"

A strange aura, simultaneously icy and searing, diffused from the bottle's mouth. Immediately, with a flash of red light, the 'Prison Fire Nether Spring' bounded out of the jade bottle, landing on Nie Kong's shoulder. It then excitedly flowed around Nie Kong’s neck, emitting crisp sounds of flowing water.

Clearly, it had been severely stifled during this time.

Watching the flashing 'Prison Fire Nether Spring,' Nie Kong couldn't help but smile. Since entering the Underworld Earth, Nie Kong had only allowed it out for brief excursions during his days at Fubo Mountain. While Nie Kong cultivated, Qing Yue had been soothing its emotions. Fortunately, the spirit of this entity had strengthened considerably since its time in the 'Dark Soul Hall'; otherwise, it likely would have burst out of the jade bottle on its own.

If Pan Hu could help it achieve full sentience and transform into a human form like Qing Yue, both he and Qing Yue would have an easier time going forward.

"A marvelous thing."

The moment the 'Prison Fire Nether Spring' appeared, even Pan Hu, the patriarch of the Pan Star Clan,’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands in admiration. "Currently, it relies only on instinct to absorb things that can strengthen it. If it achieves full sentience and begins cultivating, the speed of its advancement will surely not be inferior to yours."

After a slight pause, Pan Hu continued with a gentle smile, "Nie Kong, there is one thing this old man must tell you first. While I can certainly guide this Water Spirit to full sentience and grant it a human form, its strength cannot increase significantly in a short time."

Nie Kong nodded, "I understand."

"Good, then this old man shall begin now."

Pan Hu nodded and smiled, promptly sitting cross-legged on the ground. His ten fingers moved swiftly before him like butterflies flitting through flowers, tracing curving lines. Golden light pierced through his fingertips, quickly weaving together to form a golden heart in front of Pan Hu.

"Thump."

The golden heart trembled slightly, and a sound like clashing metal and iron suddenly echoed out. Simultaneously, the beating sound from the massive heart seemed to vanish momentarily, with only a faint red glow connecting the large and small hearts.

"Thump-thump..."

The heartbeat grew increasingly intense. In an instant, Nie Kong's ears were roaring, and his head buzzed. At this moment, Pan Hu’s slightly narrowed eyelids suddenly snapped open, his eyes flashing like nether stars. Immediately, his hair and beard stood on end, and he roared fiercely: "Boundless Heart Sea!"