The Flower Butterfly Secret Realm was utterly silent at night, broken only by the occasional distant sounds of children playing and the strange cries of the Spectral Eagle King.
The residence Hua Yanlian arranged for Nie Kong was a thousand li away from Hua Mei’s courtyard.
It was a secluded pavilion, surrounded by blooming flowers and possessing a pleasing vista.
Nie Kong stood before the window on the second floor, breathing in the faint, lingering floral fragrance carried on the breeze. His previously turbulent emotions, stirred by reuniting with Hua Mei, gradually settled into calm.
Performing the Soul Pill Transfiguration on Hua Mei was not merely a matter between Nie Kong and Hua Mei; it involved the entire Flower Spirit Clan, as the nascent soul burgeoning within Hua Mei originated from the clan’s progenitor, the ‘Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring’ (Pian Xian Yu Die Chun), a matter that could not be taken lightly.
Setting aside emotional considerations, the value gained by allowing Hua Pianxian to continue devouring Hua Mei’s soul far surpassed the benefit of separating the two. If Hua Pianxian successfully completed her metamorphosis, it meant the ‘Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring’ would return to the Flower Spirit Clan, with the restoration of her Spirit God cultivation level just around the corner.
With a Spirit God presiding over them, who would dare covet the Flower Spirit Clan in the future?
As for executing the Soul Pill Transfiguration, success would be ideal—both Hua Mei and Hua Pianxian’s souls would persist, leading to universal joy. But if the soul separation failed, everything would be lost: not only would Hua Mei, the next Flower Empress, be utterly destroyed, but Hua Pianxian would also vanish completely.
When Nie Kong saw Hua Yanlian today, although she smiled pleasantly, a veil of worry shadowed her brow; she must have been anxious about the success rate of the Soul Pill Transfiguration. Though the Empress of the Flower Spirit Clan remained in secluded cultivation and had not emerged, perhaps she harbored the same concerns as Hua Yanlian.
“Although Hua Yanlian hasn't stated it outright, if there wasn't absolute certainty of success, that Empress probably wouldn’t easily agree to separate Hua Mei’s and Hua Pianxian’s souls,” Nie Kong mused internally. “If the success of the Soul Pill Transfiguration could be guaranteed, all obstacles would melt away.”
“For now, I must find every means possible to increase the integration degree of the medicinal essence!”
“……”
A moment later, the deep furrow in Nie Kong’s brow smoothed out. He broke into a smile, turned, and walked out of the room, descending the stairs before calling out loudly, “Xiao Rui!”
“I’m here.”
From within that brilliant flower patch, a snow-white bud unfurled proudly. Immediately after, a flash of white movement occurred, and a young girl in white clothing, perhaps ten years old, appeared before the building. Her eyes were bright and clear, and she wore two small pigtails at the back of her head. The moment her feet touched the ground, she skipped and bounced toward the entrance.
This little girl was named Hua Rui, sent by Hua Yanlian to look after Nie Kong’s meals, though it also served the purpose of keeping an eye on him so he wouldn't wander off. After all, the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm was inhabited entirely by females, and Nie Kong was a newcomer; trouble could arise if he inadvertently strayed into inappropriate areas.
“Brother-in-law, what is it?” Hua Rui looked up at Nie Kong, her eyes sparkling with a faint hint of lingering curiosity.
Hearing the two words, ‘Brother-in-law,’ made Nie Kong’s heart soar, and he smiled broadly. “Xiao Rui is so good. Come, take Brother-in-law to see Elder Yanlian. I have something important to discuss with her. Oh, and this toy is a gift from Brother-in-law to you.”
As he spoke, Nie Kong willed it, and a short sword, about a foot long, shot out of his pet storage, hovering before him. Then, as if performing sleight of hand, Nie Kong brought his palms together and pulled the sword apart into two, then four, then eight pieces.
The eight thin blades were identical in length, size, and shape. Their dazzling, blood-red, ethereal glow was mesmerizing, causing the little girl Hua Rui’s eyes to light up. Nie Kong chuckled inwardly, clapped his palms shut, and in an instant, the eight swords merged back into one.
This short sword was one that Qing Yue, Qing You, and Xiang Xiang had casually pilfered from the ‘Plume Feather Sword Sect’s’ Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion after their previous raid. Nie Kong thought it looked pretty, so he tucked it away in his pet storage, deciding it was the perfect thing to coax a little girl with today.
What Nie Kong didn't know was that this sword was named the ‘Eight-Part Jade Blood Sword’ (Ba Fen Yu Xue Jian), and it ranked fifth in the Plume Feather Sword Sect’s Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion. If Ye Xiantian, the Sect Master of the Plume Feather Sword Sect, ever learned that Nie Kong had casually given away the ‘Eight-Part Jade Blood Sword’ as a mere trinket, he would likely be infuriated enough to vomit blood again.
“Thank you, Brother-in-law.” After accepting the short sword, Hua Rui beamed with delight. She started running out, happily waving back at Nie Kong, “Brother-in-law, hurry, hurry! My mother practices cultivation at this time every day. If we’re late, I won’t see her today.”
Mother?
Hearing that word, Nie Kong couldn't help but pause. He hadn't expected Hua Rui to be Hua Yanlian’s daughter. Given Hua Yanlian's current cultivation level, she shouldn't have reached her limit yet; how could she have already nurtured a daughter through the Heart-Nurturing process so early? But after a brief thought, Nie Kong understood.
Among the Flower Spirit Clan, some members reached the end of their lifespan and passed away shortly after cultivating a child through Heart-Nurturing. Those girls without mothers would then be raised by other clan members as their own. It was likely the same situation for Hua Yanlian and Hua Rui.
Hua Yanlian’s residence was not far. Two or three minutes later, Nie Kong found her in an exquisite little palace.
Seeing the bright red short sword in Hua Rui’s hand, a flicker of surprise crossed Hua Yanlian’s beautiful eyes. Only after the little girl skipped merrily out of the palace did Hua Yanlian’s gaze return to Nie Kong. She stretched her waist languidly, revealing her graceful figure completely.
“Nie Kong, go ahead,” Hua Yanlian said with a smile.
“Mistress, I wish to make a trade with the Flower Spirit Clan,” Nie Kong stated directly, cutting to the chase regarding his intentions.
“A trade?”
Hua Yanlian was first stunned, then burst into a melodious laugh, her face radiating an enchanting charm that made the surrounding blooming flowers seem pale in comparison.
After a good while, Hua Yanlian contained her smile and shot Nie Kong a look, “You little rascal, I’d like to see what kind of trade you intend to make with our Flower Spirit Clan?”
This time, Nie Kong did not answer. Instead, without prompting, he countered, “Mistress, what is the level of the Flower Spirit Clan’s alchemy proficiency?”
“Average, I suppose.”
Hua Yanlian couldn't grasp Nie Kong’s intention either. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she pondered, “Our Flower Spirit people have an innate, unique talent for carving spirit inscriptions, but when it comes to alchemy, we aren't particularly skilled. Of course, we still have two very competent Sixth-Grade Spirit Alchemists in the clan.”
Nie Kong nodded and smiled, “Mistress, what do you think of my alchemy skill?”
“You?”
Hua Yanlian paused, then glanced over Nie Kong, chuckling softly, “I basically know everything about you. I’ve heard your alchemy success rate is exceptionally high, and the integration degree of the medicinal essence you achieve is frighteningly high. Even though you aren't in Spirit Command City now, the inner-city disciples there constantly praise your refining abilities.”
As she spoke, Hua Yanlian faintly grasped Nie Kong's intent, her smile deepening as she tested him, “Nie Kong, why bring this up all of a sudden? Are you perhaps intending to help our Flower Spirit Clan refine spirit medicines?”
…… ……