... ... Two plumes of black smoke churned like dragons, spanning several li in an instant. After the initial excitement subsided, Zhan Tianlun gradually calmed down, his gaze flicking towards Nie Kong beside him from time to time. Suddenly, Zhan Tianlun seemed to recall something, slamming his feet onto the ground so forcefully that the dark aura swirling around him dissipated instantly.

"Brother Zhan, what is it?" Nie Kong stopped in surprise.

"You... you've actually reached the Seventh Order?"

Zhan Tianlun's eyes widened further, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Just broke through to the Seventh Order recently."

Nie Kong couldn't help but smile faintly. "Beneath that fire source, there's a pocket of space saturated with incredibly dense Nether Power. Cultivating there accelerates progress several times faster than at the 'Heart of the Flame.' It’s a shame that the Nether Power there is finite; otherwise, I might not have come out yet." These words were intentionally vague; since the core of Pan Hu now resided within Nie Kong, the true situation could not be disclosed to Zhan Tianlun.

"There's such a place in the Nether Sea?" Zhan Tianlun blurted out.

Nie Kong’s cultivation speed at the 'Heart of the Flame' was already stunning enough—surging from the peak of the Fourth Order to the Sixth Order in just over a month. If that news got out, it would drive other Black Spirit Masters to frantic envy. But to learn that the cultivation speed beneath the fire source was several times faster than even the 'Heart of the Flame'—how terrifying must the Nether Power concentration have been there?

Zhan Tianlun didn't doubt Nie Kong’s story.

In truth, ever since the Nether Fire first manifested, there had been speculation that the area beneath the fire source was the true Nether Source of the Nether Sea. Countless powerful figures had since ventured deep into the Nether Sea's fire source to investigate, yet they always returned empty-handed. Nevertheless, their conviction regarding the existence of the "Nether Source" remained unshaken.

If the Nether Source didn't exist, how could the Nether Sea possess such potent Nether Power?

Therefore, almost the instant Nie Kong uttered those words, Zhan Tianlun felt certain that the space Nie Kong entered was the Nether Sea's "Nether Source." Otherwise, how could Nie Kong have ascended to become a Seventh Order Black Spirit Master in just over two months?

"Young Brother Nie Kong, I never imagined you managed to enter the Nether Source of the Nether Sea. No wonder you broke through to the Seventh Order in just over two months," Zhan Tianlun marveled, clicking his tongue.

In the past two thousand years, only two people had managed to cultivate atop the 'Heart of the Flame': the Pill King of the Duntian Sect, and Nie Kong. However, the Pill King had merely used the Nether Sea fire source to temper his fire seed. Nie Kong, on the other hand, had used the Nether Fire from the source to reforge an entirely new fire seed, putting him a step above the Pill King. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that when Nie Kong was swallowed by the fire source, he not only survived but fortuitously entered the Nether Source.

"Just luck," Nie Kong shook his head, appearing genuinely vexed. "If I could choose, I'd rather never have gone to that place."

These were truly his honest feelings.

Had he not been consumed by the fire source, he could have cultivated peacefully at the 'Heart of the Flame' until he reached the Seventh Order. Though the pace would have been slower, it would have been secure. Unlike now, where, despite gaining unimaginable benefits from Pan Hu, he carried a massive hidden danger within him that could erupt at any moment.

"You fortunate child, you truly don't know when you're blessed!"

Seeing Nie Kong look so troubled, Zhan Tianlun was utterly speechless.

It seemed ever since arriving at Mount War God, Heaven itself had constantly favored Nie Kong. First, he listened to the complete eighty-one tolls of the 'Heart Drum Battle Sound'; then, he obtained the first golden doctrine, the 'War God Star Imprint,' from the War Spirit Listening Divine Chamber; afterward, he effortlessly condensed a 'Fire Seed'; upon entering the Nether Sea, he broke and reformed, quickly gaining a far more powerful new 'Fire Seed,' and then the progress became unstoppable, his cultivation soaring from the peak of the Fourth Order to the Sixth Order with ease. After being swallowed by the fire source, and with Zhan Xinzi unreachable, everyone assumed Nie Kong was dead. Yet, two months later, he reappeared, miraculously achieving the Seventh Order...

Each of these instances was enough to inspire red-eyed envy and jealousy, yet they had all piled up solely onto Nie Kong. If this continued, perhaps in a few years he could break through to the Ninth Order, becoming the youngest powerhouse in the history of the Nether Earth.

With such an external disciple pushing them, the Zhan Clan disciples would surely cultivate with even greater diligence, potentially propelling the Zhan Clan's power to a new zenith in a few decades.

Thinking this, Zhan Tianlun’s spirits lifted. "Young Brother Nie Kong, let's continue our journey. If the Clan Leader and Third Uncle knew your current strength, we can only imagine how delighted they'd be! Moreover, reaching the Seventh Order qualifies one to contend for a position as a Zhan Clan Elder... Hmm, you emerged at a perfect time. In about twenty days, the 'Elder Council' will convene, and there will be three new Elder spots open—you can compete for one."

"Elder?"

Nie Kong smiled and shook his head. If things went according to plan, after the Ghost Domain expedition, he would immediately depart the Nether Earth and might never return. A Zhan Clan Elder position served him no purpose; why should he fight the other Seventh Order Black Spirit Masters of the clan?

As his thoughts settled, seeing Zhan Tianlun already moving, Nie Kong quickly followed suit.

The next morning, Nie Kong and Zhan Tianlun encountered the two Grand Elders, Zhan Baisong and Zhan Baifeng, who had come to meet them. Upon learning of Nie Kong’s significant advancement, the two Grand Elders were overjoyed. They escorted Nie Kong and Zhan Tianlun back toward the Zhan Clan at an even faster pace.

After another day of travel, the four finally arrived at Ring Moon City.

Before they could even rest, Nie Kong was ushered by Zhan Baisong and Zhan Baifeng directly into the War Heart Hall. There, in the spacious main chamber, Nie Kong saw Clan Leader Zhan Yunlan surrounded by a cluster of old men, every single one grinning as if they had just beheld a priceless, legendary treasure...

...

Half an hour later, Nie Kong finally exited the War Heart Hall, letting out a long sigh of relief. Earlier, Zhan Yunlan and the Grand Elders had been thoroughly questioning him about his experiences over the past two-plus months. Fortunately, Nie Kong had mentally prepared for every contingency on the journey back, allowing him to avoid revealing any cracks.

"Little fellow, that feeling of being held carefully in the palm of everyone’s hand, it isn't pleasant, is it?"

Pan Hu’s mocking laughter arose, the sound low and sharp, threading like a fine wire directly into Nie Kong's ear, sounding distinctly jarring.

"It truly isn't pleasant," Nie Kong agreed, his voice barely audible.

After verifying Nie Kong's cultivation, Zhan Yunlan and the Grand Elders naturally brought up the "Ghost Domain." However, they weren't suggesting he accompany younger disciples like Zhan Qingzhu or Li Xiao for training. Instead, they opposed him entering that place; the vast majority of the Grand Elders held this view.

Their primary reason was the shock they received from Nie Kong's ordeal at the Nether Sea fire source.

The Ghost Domain was even more perilous than the Nether Sea fire source, where any unforeseen event could occur. Even with a Ninth Order expert guarding secretly, absolute safety could not be guaranteed.

If Nie Kong were still a Sixth Order Black Spirit Master, his entry into the Ghost Domain would have been a foregone conclusion. But now, as a Seventh Order master who had jumped from the Fourth Order in mere months, he was an anomaly rarely seen in history. To the Zhan Clan, Nie Kong was now a rare treasure they were afraid to drop or let melt in their mouths. How could they possibly entrust him to such a dangerous location? If even a small incident occurred, regret would be eternal, as not every danger would turn out to be a false alarm!

Nie Kong also wished to simply follow their wishes and avoid the Ghost Domain. That way, Pan Hu would have no grounds to blame him.

But upon a second thought, Nie Kong dismissed the idea. He understood Pan Hu’s objective perfectly. If he couldn't enter the Ghost Domain with the Zhan Clan members, Pan Hu would likely find another way to sneak in, which would undoubtedly lead to even greater complications for Nie Kong.

Thus, under Nie Kong's strenuous insistence, he secured a slot for the Ghost Domain expedition.

"There is a month and a half until the Ghost Domain seal opens. During this time, I can consolidate my cultivation and perhaps improve my alchemy skills. But before that, I must visit that place," Nie Kong murmured, circumventing the War Heart Hall and ascending the mountain via the sloping path to the right.

"Nie Kong, although the promise regarding the Red Star Clan inheritance has been altered, contacting Chi Lian while within Mount War God is effortless for this old man. If Chi Lian hasn't summoned you, I can still assist you with that favor," Pan Hu offered, seemingly sensing Nie Kong's intention.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony," Nie Kong replied with a slight smile.

"..."

The place Nie Kong was heading was none other than the Zhan Clan Nether Source.

For Zhan Clan disciples, attaining the Sixth Order granted access to cultivate in the Nether Source. As a Seventh Order Black Spirit Master, Nie Kong fully qualified for entry. In his hand, Nie Kong held an exquisite black jade tablet—the very token he had just received from Zhan Yunlan.

Walking several hundred meters along the mountain path, a narrow gorge came into Nie Kong's sight. The gorge was crescent-shaped, resembling a sharp, curved scimitar slicing diagonally into the steep, smooth cliff face to the north. Upon reaching the precipice, a passage resembling a fissure became clearly visible.

"This is it."

The image of the giant within the mountain chamber flashed in his mind. Nie Kong’s spirit stirred, and he couldn't help but quicken his pace, stepping into the oddly shaped tunnel.

The passage descended continuously, its stone walls studded with patches of White Jade Stone, casting a soft, milky-white luminescence that filled every inch of space. After about ten minutes, the sound of Nie Kong’s footsteps abruptly halted; a red wall blocked his path.

Glancing down, Nie Kong inserted the jade tablet in his hand into the corresponding recess at the wall's center. Threads of black light instantly bloomed from the wall's intricate patterns. Accompanied by a muffled creaking sound, a fissure split open in the center of the wall, widening rapidly, from which fierce crimson light streamed out, dazzling the eyes.

Squinting, Nie Kong saw that the passage ahead was already blazing red like fire. After a moment to adjust, he stepped directly across the crack. Immediately, a powerful aura bore down upon him like a tidal wave—fierce, domineering, and instantly enveloping his body.

"Boom!"

As if a massive stone had been dropped into a still lake, not only the death energy within his bones but even Nie Kong's blood began to surge rapidly. Under the pressure of that intense aura, his spine instinctively arched backward, nearly forcing him back out of the fissure!

... ...