Zhan Qingzhu cast a sidelong glance at Nie Kong and let out a soft snort. The surrounding Zhan clan disciples also wore expressions of slight displeasure. While Nie Kong's Seventh Tier cultivation made it logical for him to lead them, they still felt a degree of resentment.

Sixteenth Elder?

The footsteps of the middle-aged man, who was just about to depart, suddenly paused. He turned his gaze toward Nie Kong in surprise.

He was quite familiar with the affairs of the Zhan Clan and knew that one had to be a Seventh Tier Black Spirit Master to attain the rank of Elder. He hadn't expected this young man to already hold the title; standing out among so many Seventh Tier Black Spirit Masters in the Zhan Clan was no simple feat.

"His name is... Nie Kong?"

An outer disciple of the Zhan Clan?

The middle-aged man quickly withdrew his gaze and turned to leave, yet the name felt strikingly familiar. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly realized: wasn't the young man escorted deep into the Nether Sea by the Zhan Clan a few months ago also named Nie Kong? They must be the same person!

The middle-aged man's eyes flickered, and he abruptly quickened his pace.

"What we need to do now is... rest!"

Nie Kong smiled faintly and walked toward an open area not far away. Zhan Qingzhu and the others exchanged glances and could only follow with disgruntled faces. Despite their considerable cultivation levels, the long journey had left them exhausted, and a proper rest was indeed necessary.

A moment later, Nie Kong was already sitting cross-legged.

Perhaps due to their lingering annoyance, Zhan Qingzhu and the others stopped about ten meters away from Nie Kong. This suited Nie Kong just fine. After surveying his surroundings, Nie Kong's lips moved slightly, and he murmured in a voice only he could hear, "Senior Pan Hu, have you spotted that woman?"

After a considerable interval, Pan Hu's voice reached Nie Kong’s ears, equally faint, "Indeed, she is deep within the Ghost Domain. She is roughly... ten miles from where Zhan Xinzi resides, and her presence can be felt at any moment. That woman has likely detected him as well but has refrained from acting."

"When should I make my move?"

"No rush, no rush. Her cultivation has not yet dropped to its lowest point. When the time is right, Zhan Xinzi will act, and I will seize that opportunity to strike... Hm, in about five more days, it should be sufficient. We can head into the depths of the Ghost Domain then."

"Five days..."

Nie Kong sighed inwardly with relief. He was just shy of the third level of the 'Crimson Star Battle Body,' and five days should be enough time. Yet, as relief washed over him, Nie Kong couldn't help but frown slightly. Pan Hu's intent seemed clear: he wanted Zhan Xinzi to serve as cannon fodder before he made his move.

Barring any surprises, Zhan Xinzi's fate would likely be sealed. With Zhan Xinzi gone, the Zhan Clan would lose a significant deterrent force. The Zhan Clan had shown him kindness, and Nie Kong certainly didn't want to see them weakened, but he currently felt helpless, able only to lament the situation.

Lost in thought, Nie Kong closed his eyes. Just as he was about to settle into quiet cultivation, a playful voice suddenly drifted over from nearby: "Little sister, I hear the physiques of you Zhan Clan folk are quite formidable. Big brother here is very intrigued. Why don't we find a secluded spot for a friendly spar?"

Nie Kong looked up and saw that more than a dozen young men, all clad in white, had appeared around Zhan Qingzhu and her group. The one speaking was about twenty-six or twenty-seven, with fair skin and delicate features, currently giving Zhan Qingzhu a flirtatious look.

This fellow had immense audacity—daring to tease a Zhan Clan woman! Nie Kong inwardly found it amusing, curious to see how Zhan Qingzhu would handle such an incident.

"State your name!"

Zhan Qingzhu acted as if she hadn't understood the implication of the young man's words, replying calmly. However, Zhan Zichuan and the others beside her were already showing clear anger. Their gazes were locked onto the intruders, and the Nether Star flickering on their brows suddenly accelerated its pulsing, looking ready to launch an attack at any second.

"Luminous Feather Sword Sect, Ye Qiancai."

The young man chuckled, his eyes roving deliberately over Zhan Qingzhu's delicate face, quickly passing the lush curves at her chest, finally resting on her slender, cinched waist. It seemed saliva was about to drip from his mouth. "Little Zhan Clan sister, have you considered my offer? Your clan's physique is tough, so big brother won't use a sword—we'll use only our bodies for a spar. I guarantee you'll never forget the experience."

"Luminous Feather Sword Sect?" A sliver of doubt suddenly crossed Nie Kong's mind.

While the overall strength of the 'Luminous Feather Sword Sect' was inferior to the Zhan Clan, it was still a Super-tier Sect. Sects of this caliber, with their long traditions, must maintain strict standards for nurturing their disciples. How could such a frivolous and dissolute disciple as Ye Qiancai exist, especially when he was openly harassing a Zhan Clan woman?

Moreover, the fact that Ye Qiancai had reached the Ghost Domain suggested he was one of the elite from his sect. Coupled with his apparent cultivation as a Sixth Tier Black Spirit Master, he shouldn't be this reckless.

Was there something more to this?

Nie Kong's thoughts spun rapidly.

"Insolent! Ye Qiancai, I think you've grown tired of living!" Just then, Zhan Zichuan finally couldn't restrain himself. He roared and sprang up. Like a sudden clap of thunder, the deafening noise instantly drew the attention of all nearby Black Spirit Masters.

Seeing Zhan Zichuan's wrathful glare, the 'Luminous Feather Sword Sect' disciples behind him showed some apprehension, but Ye Qiancai seemed oblivious, continuing to gaze lasciviously at Zhan Qingzhu’s graceful form.

"Ye Qiancai, you wish to spar with me? Very well. However, I am not in charge here. You may discuss it with our Zhan Clan Elder; if he agrees, I am available anytime." Zhan Qingzhu's expression remained unchanged as she raised her hand and pointed toward where Nie Kong was seated. "He is there!"

"Oh?" Ye Qiancai and the others followed her finger and froze instantly.

"..." Nie Kong couldn't help but laugh inwardly, realizing the usually proud young woman had learned to divert trouble! Noticing the mischievous smile playing on Zhan Qingzhu’s face, Nie Kong rose to his full height and walked toward the slightly stunned Ye Qiancai and his group. "I am the Sixteenth Elder of the Zhan Clan!"

"You are a Zhan Clan Elder?" Ye Qiancai scrutinized Nie Kong from head to toe, his voice full of surprise.

"What? You don't believe me?"

Nie Kong smiled. "You want to spar with my Zhan Clan disciples using only your physical body? That's a very creative idea. Coincidentally, I'm feeling quite restless myself. I'll happily oblige you right now. I see no need to find a secluded spot; this place is perfect, and everyone can enjoy witnessing your valor."

"How shall we spar?" Ye Qiancai focused his gaze on Nie Kong for a moment, then suddenly broke into a smile, the flippant look vanishing from his face.

"This guy is targeting me!"

Nie Kong suddenly understood. Ye Qiancai's earlier harassment of Zhan Qingzhu was merely a tactic to draw him out. However, Nie Kong remained puzzled. He hadn't interacted with many people since arriving in the Nether Land, and he had offended even fewer. How could Ye Qiancai suddenly seek him out for trouble?

Nie Kong couldn't fathom it but decided not to dwell on it. Since his time in the Nether Land was limited, he would deal with matters as they arose.

"We each strike the other three times. No dodging, and no using Nether Power to resist. Whoever cannot endure it loses," Nie Kong stated with mock solemnity.

"Fine. Who strikes first?" Ye Qiancai agreed after only a moment's hesitation.

"Naturally, you strike first. The Zhan Clan's physique is renowned throughout the Nether Land. If I attack first, you likely won't survive a single blow. I am, after all, a dignified Zhan Clan Elder; I wouldn't take advantage of a mere junior like yourself." Nie Kong waved his hand expansively, his words brimming with heroic confidence.

"..." Seeing Nie Kong's performance, the surrounding Zhan Qingzhu and the others fell silent, their expressions turning exceedingly strange.

"Since you insist, I shall not be polite." Ye Qiancai nodded with a faint smile, though a flash of pallor crossed his face.

"Come on! Hit me right here!" Nie Kong thumped his chest, making it boom. Zhan Qingzhu and the others looked even stranger, as if watching a giant condescendingly coaxing a three-year-old: Come on! Come on! If you can manage to hurt me, I'll give you candy.

"Hiss!"

Ye Qiancai narrowed his eyes, took a sharp step forward with his left foot, and unleashed his right punch. The Death Qi swirling around his fist was unnervingly sharp; wherever it passed, the void seemed to be sliced open by a dark rift, and a piercing sound like tearing silk assaulted everyone's ears.

"Bang!"

In an instant, Ye Qiancai's fist slammed into Nie Kong's chest. Amidst the violent collision, Ye Qiancai couldn't help but stumble back two steps.

"Hm?"

Nie Kong stood firm, instead casting a slightly surprised glance at Ye Qiancai.

The techniques of the 'Luminous Feather Sword Sect' indeed possessed unique merits. However, even the 'Heavenly Blade Three Kills' technique wielded by Zhan Tianlong, a peak Seventh Tier Black Spirit Master, couldn't harm Nie Kong’s body. Ye Qiancai, being only a Sixth Tier Black Spirit Master, posed no threat to him despite his sharp attack.

"A bit light. Try again."

Nie Kong smiled and beckoned Ye Qiancai forward with his index finger.

"Hmph!"

A shadow of malice appeared in Ye Qiancai's eyes. He suddenly snorted and swung his right arm, unleashing another punch. Dense Death Qi radiated outward, and in that moment, his fist seemed to transform into an indestructible sharp sword, tearing through the void and heading straight for Nie Kong's lower abdomen.

"Boom!"

After a heavy impact, Nie Kong rubbed his stomach and grinned, waving his hand at Ye Qiancai. "That punch was good. Keep going."

Witnessing Nie Kong's demeanor, Zhan Qingzhu and the others felt a powerful urge to roll their eyes. But the surrounding onlookers, unaware of the context, regarded Nie Kong with expressions of utter astonishment.

"Now, I believe you are a Zhan Clan Elder."

Ye Qiancai’s pupils contracted. As he spoke these words, his chest was already churning with a massive internal storm. If the first punch was merely a probe, this second one had utilized nearly all his strength, especially the force unleashed at the moment his fist collided with Nie Kong's abdomen, which approached the level of a Seventh Tier attack. Yet, even so, it failed to inflict any damage on Nie Kong, and in Nie Kong’s eyes, the blow was only "good."

If Nie Kong had used any Nether Power, Ye Qiancai might have felt slightly better about the situation, but he could clearly sense that Nie Kong hadn't exerted even a sliver of Nether Power; he was relying entirely on his physical body to withstand the attack.

Nie Kong, as a Zhan Clan Elder, must possess Seventh Tier cultivation. But even a Seventh Tier Black Spirit Master shouldn't be able to absorb a strike from a peak Sixth Tier Black Spirit Master without sustaining any injury while completely disusing Nether Power. Yet, this impossible scenario had become reality.

While the Zhan Clan's physique was known to be strong, never had it been rumored to be this astonishingly robust.

Ye Qiancai took a deep breath and launched his third punch...

... ...RO