Nie Kong drew a deep breath and quickly took two steps forward. The oppressive sensation emanating from that aura crashed over him in waves, growing stronger with each surge, causing Nie Kong's blood to boil, as if death energy was about to erupt from his very bones, and intense battle intent churned powerfully in his chest.

"No wonder one must reach the Sixth Order to enter the War Clan Underworld Source!"

A sudden realization dawned on Nie Kong. Divided by that crimson wall, the passage ahead was starkly split into two utterly different worlds. If one's cultivation were below the Sixth Order, entry would be impossible; even forcing a step forward would result in being immediately repelled by the sheer, overwhelming pressure.

Allowing the surging battle intent within his body to rage, Nie Kong pressed onward.

The latter, fire-red section of the passage curved inward but was not long. After three or four hundred meters, the space within Nie Kong's view began to expand, and the death energy imbued in the void grew denser. Advancing a few dozen meters more, a thick stone door blocked his path.

"Creak!"

Just as Nie Kong reached out, the stone door was pushed ajar, and an exceptionally tall, graceful figure slipped out from the gap—it was Zhan Qingzhu, clad in green. They had met once before in the 'War Spirit Listening Altar,' and she had left a deep impression on Nie Kong.

"Nie Kong?"

Seeing Nie Kong, Zhan Qingzhu paused, then fixed her gaze on him, scrutinizing him closely.

Nie Kong found the young girl’s scrutiny baffling and was about to speak when Zhan Qingzhu bit her lip and ground out, "It seems the news wasn't wrong; you really are a Seventh Order Black Spirit Master now... But I will surpass you! Definitely!" With that, Zhan Qingzhu clenched her fist with resolute determination, then brushed past Nie Kong, holding her head high and looking straight ahead, like a little peacock strutting with pride.

"..."

Watching Zhan Qingzhu’s straight back disappear around the bend ahead, Nie Kong finally retracted his gaze. Thinking of her behavior, he couldn't help but let out a soft, amused laugh.

Within the entire War Clan, the number of direct descendants with the surname Zhan who harbored Zhan Qingzhu’s sentiment was far from small, especially among the younger generation! The history of glory and the teachings of their elders had instilled in them a sense of duty to safeguard the War Clan's honor from childhood; how could they accept an outer-clan disciple being so much more outstanding than them?

Nie Kong felt like a target right now; the more dazzling his performance, the greater the stimulus to those War Clan disciples, which would, in turn, make them cultivate even more diligently.

Perhaps this factor was also part of the reason why the War Clan's high-ranking figures had decided to recruit outer-clan disciples back then.

With that thought, Nie Kong stepped forward, pulling open the already self-closing stone door slightly, and slipped inside. A heavy wave of death energy immediately washed over him, followed by the realization that the space behind the door was unusually vast. Everywhere he looked, the area was suffused with a crimson aura, swirling like mist.

Within the red mist stood numerous enormous, crimson cocoons. Violent fluctuations of death energy radiated from their surroundings, suggesting that a member of the War Clan was cultivating within each one.

Nie Kong sensed for only a moment before noticing something truly peculiar.

In terms of death energy concentration, this space was inferior to the 'Underworld Sea Fire Source,' and even more so to the 'Spirit Marrow' within Pan Hu’s bodily space. However, the activity level of the death energy here far surpassed that of both the 'Underworld Sea Fire Source' and the 'Spirit Marrow'! Immersed within it, the surging death energy and boiling blood in his body seemed to merge with the unusually active surrounding death energy, and his battle intent felt as if it were spreading to every single cell.

"The War Clan's Spirit Art is unique; it is indeed twice the result with half the effort for War Clan members to cultivate here, especially those with the Zhan bloodline! As for outer-clan disciples, the effect is slightly less potent, but still far superior to the Nether Spirit Valley." Nie Kong moved lightly, drifting forward like a wisp of smoke.

The deeper he went, the thicker the crimson mist became, and the oppressive feeling assaulting his body intensified, especially the battle intent coursing through him, which magnified exponentially.

After about a hundred meters, Nie Kong felt as though he were burdened by the weight of ten thousand armies; even moving his feet became somewhat difficult. Yet, paradoxically, he felt an intense urge to dance and leap into battle immediately. These two contradictory sensations intertwined, creating a bizarre feeling.

"The higher the cultivation, the deeper one can enter the Underworld Source. A Seventh Order Black Spirit Master can probably only reach this far." Nie Kong swept his gaze around and noticed the number of nearby red cocoons had significantly decreased. Ahead, there were even fewer, with only the faint shadows of a few cocoons glimpsed intermittently through the mist—those individuals must be Eighth Order Black Spirit Masters of the War Clan.

"I wonder... can Chi Lian sense this while I cultivate?"

Nie Kong sat cross-legged and quietly circulated the 'Star Seal of the War God.' As the Nether Star flickered, a burst of golden light erupted from his Yaochi Acupoint. Immediately, Nie Kong discovered that the oppressive feeling surrounding him vanished without a trace, and the surging death energy and blood within his body instantly calmed.

"Huh?"

Nie Kong was greatly astonished.

"The divine power cultivated through the Star Seal of the War God originates from Chi Lian and carries his aura. This War Clan Underworld Source also stems from Chi Lian; the two share the same origin. Because of this connection, when I circulate the Star Seal of the War God, I am no longer disturbed by this Underworld Source."

Thinking it over, Nie Kong vaguely understood.

"If I'm not disturbed, doesn't that mean I can continue advancing?" Nie Kong’s spirit lifted. He rose to his feet, circulated his Spirit Art as he moved, and indeed, he no longer felt any resistance, stepping forward as easily as strolling in a garden.

Nie Kong rejoiced, suddenly quickening his pace. In the blink of an eye, he covered another hundred meters.

At this location, the surrounding crimson mist was extremely dense. Even by focusing his vision, he could vaguely make out only the area within a two-meter radius.

Nie Kong continued his steps, his field of vision shrinking—from two meters to one, and from one meter to half a meter... until his vision was utterly saturated in scarlet, unable even to see the clothes on his own body clearly. Nie Kong paused briefly, finally deciding to proceed further into the depths of the Underworld Source.

However, after taking just two more steps, Nie Kong’s vision suddenly cleared, becoming bright and distinct.

He scanned the surroundings quickly, taking in the environment. It was a square space, approximately five meters wide and long. In the center of this space stood a statue, cloaked in a red robe. Observing its features, it was unmistakably the Great Elder Chi Lian of the Chi Star Clan from the base of War God Mountain!

At this moment, tendrils of inky black death energy seeped out from the statue, transforming into wisps of fire-red aura that flowed continuously into the red space behind.

"This should be about right."

Nie Kong sat down, the Nether Star within his body continuing to flash. Instantly, his mind became utterly clear. Gradually, Nie Kong felt his entire being merge into this small space, and then, a strand of spiritual consciousness rose uncontrollably, plunging into the statue.

"Boom!"

It was as if a thousand pounds of explosive material had detonated inside Nie Kong's consciousness, bringing a tearing pain that vanished just as quickly. In the next instant, Nie Kong found himself back in the space roughly five meters square, still centered by the statue.

The scenery was identical, but the sensation Nie Kong experienced was utterly different—though he couldn't articulate the precise nature of that difference.

"You finally came after all!"

A hard voice suddenly rang out, sharp and resonant like clashing metal.

Nie Kong started slightly and turned to look, his gaze falling upon the statue. At that moment, the statue's appearance began to shift subtly, instantly transforming into a living person—it was the robust, rugged-looking man in his thirties whom Nie Kong's spiritual sense had perceived when listening to the 'Heart Drum War Sound.' However, his height had shrunk considerably, now comparable only to Zhan Tianlun.

After a moment of stunned silence, Nie Kong collected himself and bowed low. "Greetings, Elder Chi Lian."

Upon hearing Nie Kong’s form of address, the sturdy man showed no surprise. He sat down cross-legged as before, his bell-like copper eyes fixed intently on Nie Kong. After a long pause, a nearly imperceptible smile touched his rugged face, and he gestured to Nie Kong, "Sit!"

"Yes."

Hearing this, Nie Kong did not hesitate and sat directly opposite Chi Lian.

Chi Lian gazed at Nie Kong. "Little fellow, I know why you are here today. I can grant your request and give you the Chi Star Clan inheritance."

Nie Kong was taken aback by how readily Chi Lian agreed.

In Nie Kong's estimation, having failed to respond the last time Chi Lian had summoned him, he had likely displeased the Great Elder of the Chi Star Clan, and obtaining the Chi Star Clan inheritance from him would not be easy. Therefore, Nie Kong had prepared various rebuttals and strategies before coming.

He had not anticipated events unfolding so smoothly, rendering all his prepared speeches useless. Nie Kong’s mind worked rapidly, and he probed tentatively, "Elder Chi Lian, might I ask what your conditions are?"

"Speaking with an intelligent person is certainly easier. I do have a condition."

Chi Lian looked at Nie Kong with satisfaction, then his expression chilled, and he stated gravely, "My condition is that you must consume Pan Hu's heart!"

Consume Pan Hu's heart?

Nie Kong was startled. He knew that Chi Lian’s use of the word "consume" didn't mean literal eating, but rather "absorption."

Yet, Pan Hu was immensely powerful, and his heart was lodged within Nie Kong’s body. Not only was absorption difficult, but even severing ties with the heart was proving extremely challenging. Although Nie Kong now possessed a method to separate from Pan Hu's heart, and the success rate was quite high, actually implementing it was not easy. Furthermore, what shocked Nie Kong most was that Pan Hu and Chi Lian were friends; why would Chi Lian suddenly impose such a condition? Wasn't he afraid Pan Hu would find out?

"Little fellow, don't worry."

As if sensing Nie Kong’s thoughts, Chi Lian snorted. "I use the sentience of my Crimson Flame Battle Robe as the source to create this space within the robe, drawing your spiritual sense in to speak. It is absolutely safe! I tempered the Crimson Flame Battle Robe for thousands of years; without my consent, no one can enter here or investigate the situation within, including Pan Hu in your right chest! Unless Pan Hu has already attained the status of a Grand Sovereign, which is impossible. Although he awoke earlier than me, his strength has recovered at most by only one-tenth!"