If Nie Kong's body before was like a block of iron, now it was rapidly evolving from iron into fine steel, and the crimson mist surrounding him, imbued with endless death energy, served as the inexhaustible catalyst.

As it progressed, nearly every cell within him underwent a fierce metamorphosis, shaking even Nie Kong, the instigator, to his core.

"Boom!"

In just a few short minutes, the flashing frequency of the crimson star reached its absolute limit before suddenly shattering. In a blink, specks of red light drifted over every part of Nie Kong's body. Instantly, his rigid, fine-steel-like physique began to soften.

"Crimson Star Battle Body," First Layer, successfully cultivated!

"Hah!"

Nie Kong let out a soft breath, opened his eyes, and eagerly examined his own body.

The cultivation process for the First Layer of the "Crimson Star Battle Body" was extremely brief, yet the sensation it gave Nie Kong was profoundly novel. From start to finish, Nie Kong could clearly feel his body becoming progressively harder; especially toward the end, his entire being felt like a statue cast from solid metal.

However, in the final moments, the exploded "Crimson Star" miraculously softened Nie Kong's body in the blink of an eye. Externally, he appeared as lustrous and smooth as jade, as if he hadn't cultivated the "Crimson Star Battle Body" at all. But Nie Kong knew just how tough his physique was beneath that soft skin; in just a few minutes, the strength of this body had experienced a qualitative leap.

At this point, even if a peak Seventh-Rank Black Spirit Master struck him with a full-force slash, Nie Kong estimated he would only manage to scrape the surface, perhaps not even drawing blood.

"The First Layer is complete. I must see if the effects of this Crimson Star Battle Body are truly as miraculous as Chi Lian claimed," Nie Kong said, itching to try it out, and rose to his full height.

"Great!"

With a mere thought from Nie Kong, a series of crackling explosions resonated from within his body, and in the next moment, his entire physique sprang into action.

Bones lengthened, muscles swelled, skin stretched...

"Rip! Rip..."

Clothes were constantly bursting open.

In less than two seconds, Nie Kong had grown a full size, his original height of 1.8 meters stretching to about 2.5 meters, making him exceptionally burly and robust. The clothes on his body had completely shredded, leaving vast expanses of skin exposed to the air.

Looking himself up and down, Nie Kong couldn't help but pinch his own arm. The skin was as hard as steel, showing no give whatsoever.

"So hard!"

Nie Kong was both surprised and delighted. He had seemingly reverted to the state before the Crimson Star shattered, yet his body should be even more formidable now. The most miraculous thing was that despite the rigidity of his body, it posed no hindrance to movement; Nie Kong remained as agile and free as ever in every gesture.

"If the First Layer is like this, how terrifyingly powerful will the body be when the 'Crimson Star Battle Body' reaches the Ninth Layer of completion? No wonder Chi Lian was unrivaled among the Star Gods ten thousand years ago; even after being wounded by the Grand Sovereign, she could still take Pan Hu down with her!"

"..."

After a moment of contemplation, Nie Kong willed his body to return to normal, though the ripped clothing could not be restored. Nie Kong paid it no mind and continued to cultivate the Second Layer of the "Crimson Star Battle Body."

Previously, when Nie Kong condensed the Nine Underworld Stars using the "Nether Fiend Art," he chose the Yaochi Acupoint for the First Underworld Star, and the Heart Sea Acupoint for the Second. Therefore, the "Crimson Star" required for the Second Layer of this "Crimson Star Battle Body" had to be condensed within the Underworld Star located in the Heart Sea Acupoint.

After cultivating for a month within Pan Hu's spiritual marrow, the majority of the Second Underworld Star had turned golden, with only the very center remaining pitch black.

"Hah!"

The crimson mist surged around him, but the wisps entering Nie Kong's body converged into a single mass, instantly transforming into a red dot embedded in the center of the Second Underworld Star...

...

War Heart Hall.

"Nie Kong has been in the Ninth-Tier Zone of the Nether Source for three days now?"

Hearing Zhan Tian Lun speak, Zhan Yun Lan was startled.

Based on suitability for cultivation, the Nether Source was roughly divided into four zones from outside to in: Sixth Tier, Seventh Tier, Eighth Tier, and Ninth Tier. Generally, due to the unique nature of the Zhan Clan's Nether Source, Sixth-Rank Black Spirit Masters could only cultivate in the outermost Sixth Tier zone and could never linger long in the Seventh Tier zone.

However, now he heard that Nie Kong, a Seventh-Rank Black Spirit Master, had actually entered the Ninth Tier zone and stayed there for three days—how could Zhan Yun Lan not be shocked?

"Yes, Clan Leader. Ever since he entered the Nether Source that day, he hasn't reappeared. I asked those cultivating in the Sixth and Seventh Tier zones; they only saw Nie Kong go in, but not come out. Later, an Elder Uncle who had just exited the Eighth Tier zone said he sensed someone entering the Ninth Tier zone three days ago, and no one has been seen coming out since. No Supreme Elders entered the Nether Source three days ago, so that person must undoubtedly be Nie Kong."

Zhan Tian Lun spoke rapidly, like popping corn, his expression somewhat anxious.

He had been cultivating since returning to War God Mountain. Today, on a whim, he decided to check on Nie Kong, only to learn Nie Kong was still in the Nether Source. He went in to search again and received the news about Nie Kong entering the Ninth Tier zone, which thoroughly frightened him, so he rushed to inform the Clan Leader.

Zhan Yun Lan frowned slightly and commanded in a deep voice, "Tian Lun, go notify the Supreme Elders gathered on War God Mountain and ask them to proceed to the Nether Source to investigate. I will go ahead first."

"Yes!"

Zhan Tian Lun dared not delay, agreed, and rushed out of War Heart Hall like a whirlwind. The pressure in the Ninth Tier zone of the Nether Source was exceptionally strong; even Ninth-Tier powerhouses found movement difficult after entering. Bringing more Supreme Elders would certainly speed up the search.

"Whoosh!"

Zhan Yun Lan's figure flashed, and he too vanished from the hall...

...

Nether Source, edge of the Sixth Tier Zone.

"..."

"Wasn't that the Clan Leader who just went in?"

"Yes, the Clan Leader hasn't been to the Nether Source to cultivate in quite some time."

"Judging by the Clan Leader's demeanor just now, he seemed rather rushed?"

"..."

Several burly men resting there muttered amongst themselves, occasionally peering toward the crimson depths of the Nether Source. The result was predictable; other than some crimson cocoons within the Sixth Tier zone, they saw nothing, and slight confusion appeared on their faces.

In their eyes, Clan Leader Zhan Yun Lan was always composed and steady, as if he had every outcome figured out in any endeavor. A rushed appearance like the one just witnessed was unprecedented.

But before they could figure out what was happening, the stone gates at the entrance began to creak and groan again.

Immediately afterward, figures streamed in one after another, each darting like lightning into the depths of the red mist. Seeing this sight, the few burly men stared, their eyes wide open.

"Si... Six Supreme Elders?"

"What is going on? The Clan Leader and so many Supreme Elders arriving at once?"

"Could something have happened inside?"

"..."

After a long while, the few men seemed to wake from a dream, feeling deeply suspicious and unsettled...

...

About fifteen minutes later, Clan Leader Zhan Yun Lan and the six Supreme Elders converged in the Ninth Tier zone deep within the Nether Source, all shaking their heads at each other. The seven of them meticulously searched the area spanning several tens of meters several times over, yet failed to spot a single figure.

"Did he enter an even deeper zone?"

Zhan Yun Lan's heart sank. Their current position was already at the very end of the Ninth Tier zone. Deeper into the Nether Source, even they, Ninth-Rank Black Spirit Masters, found entry difficult—unless one was a supreme powerhouse whose cultivation reached the level of Zhan Xin Zi. But Nie Kong was only at the Seventh Rank. Passing through the Eighth Tier zone to arrive here was already astonishing enough; could he still possess the ability to go further?

The Supreme Elders shared the same doubt, all staring intently ahead. Unfortunately, the red mist ahead was too dense; even the strongest eyesight could not penetrate it.

"Since Nie Kong could enter unimpeded, he must be able to ensure his own safety," one Supreme Elder said with a tone lacking full certainty.

This Nether Source was an excellent place for cultivation, but the omnipresent pressure could maximize the battle intent within the human body. Even they could not cultivate in the Ninth Tier zone for more than two days. Any longer, and they risked descending into madness.

Nie Kong being able to enter did not imply he could remain there long.

Consequently, the surrounding Supreme Elders could not be completely convinced by this speculation. However, with things as they stood, believing in Nie Kong's capabilities was the only option left. After all, since the Nether Source first appeared, very few within the entire Zhan Clan had ever reached its deepest part, and they were unfamiliar with the conditions of the zones within.

"Hmm... hmm?"

Zhan Yun Lan nodded helplessly, but an instant later, he let out an astonished low cry, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

The Supreme Elders quickly focused their gazes, seeing the dense red mist surge violently, instantaneously condensing into a massive crimson cocoon over three meters tall.

It looked like a giant entirely coated in the red mist.

"Nie Kong?"

In that instant, these two words flashed through the minds of Zhan Yun Lan and the six Supreme Elders almost simultaneously...

...

"'Crimson Star Battle Body,' Second Layer, the body's toughness is at least double that of the First Layer!"

Within the dense red mist, Nie Kong had transformed into a giant over three meters tall. He rubbed his hard arms and thighs with satisfaction, deeply pleased. Facing an enemy with a body like this, even an Eighth-Rank Black Spirit Master might be unable to harm him.

Just now, the Crimson Star in his Heart Sea Acupoint had shattered, and Nie Kong had successfully cultivated the Second Layer of the "Crimson Star Battle Body."

Cultivating this Second Layer took longer than the First.

Nie Kong understood the reason clearly. The "Crimson Star Battle Body" was closely linked to the "War God Star Seal." When cultivating the First Layer of the "Crimson Star Battle Body," Nie Kong's Underworld Star in the Yaochi Acupoint was already entirely golden, making the cultivation proceed naturally.

However, the Underworld Star in the Heart Sea Acupoint still had a small patch at its center that hadn't transformed, naturally requiring more time. But the cultivation of the "Crimson Star Battle Body" also accelerated the transformation of the Underworld Star. The very moment the Second Layer of the "Crimson Star Battle Body" succeeded, Nie Kong's Second Underworld Star also turned pure gold.

Thus, Nie Kong's second "War God Star Seal" was formed!

...

: First update delivered. If nothing unexpected happens, there might be three updates today. Also, the plot for this volume is nearing its conclusion.

...