After a short while, a single sentence from Zhan Baisong concluded this final sparring session.

Nearly fifteen minutes later, the figures dispersed, and the previously bustling Zhan Xin Hall gradually returned to calm. In the hall, apart from Clan Leader Zhan Yunlan, the Grand Elders and Elders such as Zhan Baisong and Zhan Tianlun, only the newly promoted Elders—Nie Kong, Zhan Tianlong, and Zhan Baixin—remained.

"Tianhua, bring the items forward."

Zhan Yunlan's gaze swept across Nie Kong and the other two, beckoning Zhan Tianhua, who was holding three boxes behind him.

As Zhan Tianhua approached, Zhan Tianlong and Zhan Baixin’s eyes immediately lit up as they focused on the boxes. Hearing Zhan Yunlan’s words, their gazes turned instantly eager. Noticing the shift in their expressions, Nie Kong cast a somewhat puzzled glance at Zhan Tianhua as he stepped forward.

"Baixin!"

Taking the topmost wooden box from Zhan Tianhua, Zhan Yunlan smiled toward Zhan Baixin. "In our Zhan Clan, every newly appointed Elder receives a gift. Baixin, this 'Cascading Cloud Pearl' is yours. With it, your cultivation speed for the 'Misty Rain Entanglement' will accelerate."

"Thank you, Clan Leader," Zhan Baixin replied, excitement blooming on her alluring face as she respectfully accepted the wooden box from Zhan Yunlan.

"So, it's a gift," Nie Kong realized with a flash of understanding. He watched as Zhan Baixin, with a radiant smile, opened the wooden box. The 'Cascading Cloud Pearl' Zhan Yunlan mentioned was revealed: a puff of white cloud about the size of a palm. Zhan Baixin opened her mouth and inhaled; the slowly drifting white cloud flew inward and was swallowed in one gulp.

The next moment, Zhan Baixin’s head began to ripple as if disturbed by water waves, followed by her neck, chest, and arms... This undulating motion traveled downward until it reached her feet, and Zhan Baixin seemed to transform into a wisp of smoke and cloud, indistinct and hazy.

"Truly a fine item!" Nie Kong’s eyes gleamed. After consuming the 'Cascading Cloud Pearl,' Zhan Baixin’s entire form became slightly ethereal, yet the death energy surrounding her within a radius of several meters grew viscous, like flowing water. Then, tendril by tendril, it separated and continuously seeped into Zhan Baixin’s body.

Several seconds later, the anomaly on Zhan Baixin gradually vanished. Her complexion appeared even more exquisitely radiant, as if she had instantly shed twenty years, and her aura became even more elusive. Just as Zhan Yunlan said, with the 'Cascading Cloud Pearl,' Zhan Baixin’s cultivation of the 'Misty Rain Entanglement' would certainly yield twice the result with half the effort.

"Excellent, excellent. Over these past few thousand years, the 'Cascading Cloud Pearl' has had ten owners, but it is rare to find one as perfectly suited to it as Baixin," chuckled an Elder, stroking his beard.

"..."

Zhan Baisong and the others surrounding them all showed expressions of approval.

If Zhan Baixin, merely the Eighteenth Elder, could receive such a fine gift, Nie Kong couldn't help but anticipate what might be inside the bottom-most box.

"Tianlong, this 'God-Falling Blade' is for you," Zhan Yunlan said, picking up the second box and handing it to Zhan Tianlong. "Integrate this blade into your body, and your 'Heavenly Blade Three Kills' technique will become even more flawless." After a brief pause, Zhan Yunlan cautioned, "In the future, if you encounter an opponent like Nie Kong, remember not to become impatient or reckless, lest you lose your composure."

"Yes." Zhan Tianlong felt a deep sense of gravity, yet the joy on his face was impossible to conceal as he took the box containing the 'God-Falling Blade.'

Nie Kong watched Zhan Tianlong, who tucked the wooden box under his armpit and showed no sign of opening it right there, which struck Nie Kong as rather dull.

"Nie Kong."

Zhan Yunlan’s gaze settled upon Nie Kong, and he smiled gently. "The gifts for the newly appointed Elders, whether precious or not, are judged solely on their suitability. Your gift, this item has never been used since our Zhan Clan's Ancestor obtained it several thousand years ago. Therefore, it has been revered as the foundational treasure of our Zhan Clan."

"The foundational treasure?" Nie Kong was stunned, and an immediate surge of delight colored his expression.

Zhan Tianlong and Zhan Baixin beside him were greatly surprised, while Zhan Baisong and the others looked at Nie Kong with calm faces, evidently already aware of the matter.

"Nie Kong, don't rejoice too soon," Zhan Yunlan said with a slight smile. "Whether this ultimate treasure truly belongs to you depends on your compatibility with it. If there is no resonance, nothing can be done." As he spoke, Zhan Yunlan clicked open the wooden box, and an inky black, lustrous light erupted from within.

Instantly, the light across a radius of several tens of meters seemed to be devoured, plunging the hall into gloom.

"This is..." Nie Kong's heart stirred, and he subconsciously stepped forward to peer inside. He saw a lump of inky black matter lying quietly in the box.

Zhan Yunlan chuckled, took it out, and gave it a gentle shake. The condensed blackness poured down like a flowing cloud and cascading waterfall—it was a black robe. The moment it fully unfurled, a sheet of dark radiance surged out, enveloping the entire grand hall in darkness.

A brilliant, crimson gem appeared from Zhan Baisong's palm, illuminating the space within a few meters around them.

"This is a battle robe, named the 'Lingxi,'" Zhan Yunlan stated, his eyes fixed on Nie Kong. "Probe your spiritual thought into the robe; if you resonate with it, it will merge into your body. The old man is not entirely clear on its specific function, but at the very least, it will ensure that when you cultivate the 'War God Star Seal' or face an opponent like you did today, you won't be left exposed."

As if recalling Nie Kong's naked state, everyone couldn't help but smile faintly.

"Thank you, Clan Leader," Nie Kong said hastily, taking the 'Lingxi Battle Robe' into his hands. It was unclear what material this robe was made of; it felt weightless, yet it was smooth and soft, like a woman's delicate, supple skin—incredibly comfortable to the touch, making Nie Kong reluctant to let go.

Remembering Zhan Yunlan's instruction, Nie Kong gently closed his eyes, and a sliver of spiritual thought left his brow, diving straight into the robe.

"Boom!"

A formidable suction pulled him in. Nie Kong's spiritual thought felt as if it were dragged into a vortex, and immediately afterward, Nie Kong felt as though he were standing in a space of absolute darkness.

"Lingxi, the battle robe of successive Clan Leaders of my Scarlet Star Clan. Only those who possess the inheritance of our clan's 'Scarlet Star Battle Body' can awaken the Lingxi!" Amidst the vast darkness, a resounding, powerful voice suddenly rang out. Following this voice appeared an exceptionally robust and imposing man.

"Chilian!" Nie Kong started, then immediately understood. This must be a remnant will of the Scarlet Star Clan's Grand Elder, Chilian, preserved within the 'Lingxi Battle Robe.' The attire Chilian wore now was not the 'Crimson Flame Battle Robe' Nie Kong had seen deep within War God Mountain, but the 'Lingxi.'

To obtain the 'Scarlet Star Battle Body' inheritance is to be able to awaken the Lingxi—wasn't this 'Lingxi Battle Robe' prepared specifically for him? Nie Kong rejoiced inwardly.

But Chilian seemed not to notice Nie Kong, suddenly roaring:

"Rise!"

As the sound fell, Chilian's body rapidly expanded, instantly transforming into a giant a hundred meters tall. The 'Lingxi Battle Robe' he wore stretched with him, yet not a single tear appeared; it neither hung loosely nor constrained him, remaining perfectly fitted to Chilian's physique.

"Fire!"

Blazing flames erupted from thin air, engulfing Chilian's body. However, the inky black color of the 'Lingxi Battle Robe' remained faintly visible within the flames, completely unharmed.

"Water!"

The raging fire instantly transformed into a vast ocean. Chilian stood upon the surface of the sea, the 'Lingxi Battle Robe' fluttering, lifting his massive body. In the next moment, the robe settled, and Chilian sank to the seabed, yet the seawater parted automatically about an inch away from him.

"Change!"

Chilian roared again, and in an instant, the battle robe shifted from black to white, from white to red, from red to yellow... until it reverted to its original inky black.

In a mere few seconds, the Lingxi Battle Robe had transformed ten colors.

"Cleanse!"

Yellow sand whirled across the expanse, and Chilian walked through it, yet he remained utterly spotless...

"..."

The myriad uses of the Lingxi Battle Robe were demonstrated one by one by Chilian, opening Nie Kong's eyes to wonders.

"The Lingxi Battle Robe can expand or contract, manifest ten colors, resist water and fire, and remain untainted by dust... but it cannot be used for offensive engagement!" As he spoke, the 'Lingxi Battle Robe' on Chilian's body billowed outward. A battle blade shot like lightning from the distant void, slicing directly toward Nie Kong's form.

Nie Kong clearly saw the battle blade pass straight through the Lingxi Battle Robe, striking Chilian's chest within the robe, and then vanishing. The robe was completely intact, but a shallow white mark appeared on the skin of Chilian's chest. Indeed, this robe could not withstand any attack.

"Remember! Remember!"

The voice echoed in the void, and Chilian's figure quickly dissolved into nothingness, leaving only the 'Lingxi Battle Robe,' which rapidly contracted, then condensed into a sphere of inky black energy, shooting toward Nie Kong's brow.

"Boom!"

Nie Kong felt his vision clear. When he looked again, he had already broken free from that dark space and returned to Zhan Xin Hall. Immediately, Zhan Yunlan and the others shot up from their seats. Zhan Tianlun, Zhan Tianlong, and the others beside them involuntarily gasped in astonishment.

Nie Kong lowered his gaze and noticed that the Lingxi Battle Robe was merging into his palm at a speed visible to the naked eye. A few seconds later, Nie Kong felt a shadow added to his spiritual consciousness, identical in appearance to the 'Lingxi Battle Robe,' and a sensation of perfect fusion rose from the depths of his heart.

Simultaneously, a marvelous sense of comfort began to spread from his skin.

"It's done!" After standing dumbfounded for a moment, Nie Kong’s face lit up with joy. In a few swift movements, he stripped off the robe he had taken from Zhan Tianlong. Everyone watched intently as the 'Lingxi Battle Robe' settled onto Nie Kong's body, appearing perfectly fitted, as if it had been tailored precisely for him.

"He put it on! He actually put it on!"

"The Lingxi Battle Robe looks extremely compatible with Nie Kong. Could it also be because of the 'War God Star Seal'?"

"..."

Everyone gazed at Nie Kong, praising him in unison.

Zhan Yunlan let out a long breath, remarking with emotion, "For thousands of years, no one has possessed this 'Lingxi Battle Robe.' Today, you have worn it. Nie Kong, it seems this 'Lingxi Battle Robe' was destined to be yours. Very good, very good. Go rest well; tomorrow we depart for the Ghost Domain."

"Yes." Nie Kong bowed slightly, though his heart held a trace of suspicion. This 'Lingxi Battle Robe' could be said to be prepared for those who had cultivated the 'Scarlet Star Battle Body.' Why hadn't Chilian mentioned it at all when he was in the Underworld Source? Perhaps he didn't want me to obtain it. This was quite possible, as the residual will indicated that the 'Lingxi Battle Robe' could only be worn by successive Clan Leaders of the Scarlet Star Clan. Although Nie Kong had received the Scarlet Star Clan's inheritance, his relationship with Chilian was merely transactional; it was natural for him not to disclose the existence of the 'Lingxi Battle Robe.'

It was just that Chilian probably never expected that, entering the Zhan Clan Elder selection with a casual attitude, Nie Kong would still manage to claim the Lingxi Battle Robe.

...

...RO