"Indeed," Nie Kong nodded with a subtle smile, "this is the transaction I wish to make with the Flower Spirit Clan. I assume you have amassed a substantial collection of medicinal herbs; you allow me free use of them, and every single spirit medicine I refine from them will belong entirely to the Flower Spirit Clan. I won't keep a single pill for myself."

Hua Yanlian's eyes immediately brightened, then she spoke with a captivating smile, "To perform the 'Soul Transformation into Divinity via Elixir,' one must already be a Seventh-Grade Spirit Alchemist, capable of refining elixirs with a one-hundred-percent fusion degree. Nie Kong, are you planning to use the Flower Spirit Clan's herbs to elevate your own alchemy skills?"

Nie Kong laughed heartily, "Master is truly insightful! My little scheme cannot hide beneath your piercing gaze."

"Stop flattering me."

Hua Yanlian shot him a look, annoyance thinly veiled, "We do possess many rare medicinal herbs, including primary ingredients for Seventh and even Eighth-Grade spirit medicines. These resources were not acquired easily. Nie Kong, your success rate and medicinal fusion degree are undeniably high, and you currently possess the strength of a Sixth-Grade Elixir Spirit. However, are you absolutely certain you have the capability to refine Seventh-Grade spirit medicines right now?"

As she spoke, a playful smile curled the corners of Hua Yanlian's lips. "To my knowledge, you haven't even attempted to refine Fifth or Sixth-Grade elixirs yet."

"Ahem."

Nie Kong cleared his throat twice, his face utterly unperturbed, and chuckled, "Master need not worry. Given the herbs, refining Fifth or Sixth-Grade elixirs presents almost no challenge for me. As for Seventh-Grade elixirs, while I have never attempted them, I imagine the difficulty won't be insurmountable."

Seeing Nie Kong praise his alchemy prowess as unparalleled in the heavens and scarce on earth, Hua Yanlian couldn't help but shake her head with a soft laugh. If high-grade spirit medicines were truly so easy to refine, Spirit Alchemists above the Fifth Grade wouldn't be so few, nor would high-grade elixirs command such exorbitant prices whenever they appeared.

Nie Kong smiled, "Master, please don't shake your head so quickly. Let me try, and then you will know for sure. If I truly lacked the ability, my true colors would be revealed immediately."

Though Hua Yanlian was somewhat skeptical of Nie Kong's boasts, she knew he wouldn't speak nonsense on a matter this crucial. After all, the standard of his alchemy was a key factor in whether the 'Soul Transformation into Divinity via Elixir' could succeed. Given Nie Kong's nature, he would never trifle with Hua Mei's fate.

"You are right," she conceded.

Considering this, Hua Yanlian straightened her delicate frame, the languor instantly vanishing from her face, replaced by a solemn expression. "However, I cannot unilaterally decide the use of the Flower Spirit Clan's herbs. Since Her Majesty the Empress is in seclusion, only if all five Elders concur can I lead you into our Clan's medicinal garden. Moreover, whether this trade is concluded will depend on whether you can gain the endorsement of two Sixth-Grade Spirit Alchemists once you are inside."

"I understand."

Nie Kong nodded.

He was well aware that if his skill in refining high-grade elixirs failed to convince Hua Yanlian and the others, they would never permit him unrestricted access to those precious herbs. After all, if an attempt at refinement failed, the herbs would be lost permanently.

In truth, Nie Kong still possessed a significant hoard of precious herbs looted from the Underworld in his pet inventory. However, many of those herbs were dark and saturated with death energy. Using them now to refine Nether Elixirs would be a waste; better to keep them stored for the moment. If he could later integrate the refinement of Nether Elixirs with standard spirit medicine alchemy, those inky black herbs would surely prove invaluable.

"Then wait here for a moment; I shall return shortly."

A flash of red light shimmered, and Hua Yanlian's graceful, slender figure vanished instantly from the hall.

Nie Kong waited for about a quarter of an hour before Hua Yanlian reappeared. This time, she was accompanied by three other beautiful women, similar in age to her, one alluring, one pure, and one aloof—each possessing a distinct aura, a perfect bouquet of varied charms.

"Nie Kong, those three possess Heavenly Spirit strength, you know," Qing Yue murmured softly. Based on the information Hua Rou had revealed on the way, Nie Kong instantly identified their standings. The alluring woman in pink must be Hua Ruyu; the one with the innocent, youthful face was Hua Linglong; and the cold-faced one was Hua Luoxue.

Hua Yanlian, Hua Zixi, and these three constituted the five great Elders of the Flower Spirit Clan.

"Greetings to the three Elders."

Nie Kong quickly bowed in deference, somewhat surprised that they had all come at once.

"You are Hua Mei's man? Hmm, not bad, not bad at all..." Hua Ruyu's seductive gaze swept quickly over Nie Kong before she let out a soft, charming giggle.

Nie Kong was momentarily speechless; this Elder was quite direct. Before he could respond, Hua Linglong asked with evident curiosity, "Nie Kong, Yanlian mentioned you are remarkably skilled at alchemy?"

"Let's go!"

Hua Luoxue was even more forthright, effectively cutting off the words forming in Nie Kong's throat.

Hua Yanlian couldn't help but smile, "Excluding Zixi, who is guarding the Flower Butterfly Valley outside, all four Elders of the Flower Spirit Clan are here. They all wish to witness your alchemy skills firsthand. Furthermore, I've already messaged Zixi, and she raised no objection. Nie Kong, you are lucky; we are heading to the medicinal garden now."

The five wasted no more time, filing out in order.

A few minutes later, the group reached the northern edge of the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm, where a lake tens of meters wide blocked their path. Hua Yanlian and the others did not slow their pace, continuing forward. As their feet stepped into the water, their figures sequentially dissolved. Nie Kong immediately understood: the lake before him was merely an illusion.

With a thought, Nie Kong also leaped in. The next instant, the lake vanished without a trace, replaced by a vast, flat expanse upon which countless varieties of medicinal herbs were planted. A narrow path extended from where the five stood directly toward the center of the herb grounds, where a row of exquisite wooden houses sat nestled, from which a faint aroma of medicine drifted.

It truly was a world unto itself in here!

"Ah-ha-ha!"

The little creature suddenly cheered, tumbling out of the Spiritual Soul Aperture as if an starving fiend who hadn't eaten for days had just spotted a bowl of rich broth. Startled, Nie Kong quickly sent a mental command to restrain the eager little thing.

"This is our Flower Spirit Clan's medicinal garden. It's a small space carved out inside the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm by our Elder Ancestor herself when she attained the Spirit God realm, dedicated solely to growing herbs. It has existed for thousands of years now, and two of the herbs planted then have already developed considerable spirituality."

Hua Yanlian moved gracefully forward, offering Nie Kong a brief explanation.

She spoke casually, but Nie Kong listened with growing astonishment. This place was not an illusion but an independent space. Since the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm was already an independent space, the difficulty of carving out another small, separate realm within it was unimaginable. This suggested that Hua Pianxian’s ability to inscribe spiritual patterns back then must have reached the pinnacle of perfection.

What surprised Nie Kong most, however, were the two herbs Hua Yanlian mentioned, which had been planted for millennia. Since they had developed sentience, they might very well become Herb Spirits, similar to Qing Yue, in the future. Still, despite his surprise, Nie Kong dared not covet them; otherwise, the Flower Spirit Clan would surely fight him to the death.

... ...RO