A chapter with overly sensitive content was deleted midway; the subsequent chapter numbering will not be adjusted, as it does not affect narrative continuity.

A faint coolness permeated his body, instantly spreading through every limb and bone, reaching even the depths of his soul. Nie Kong finally began to emerge from that hazy state of slumber; his consciousness slowly flickered back to wakefulness, with his soul being the first part to clear.

"Tenth-Grade Drunken God Fragrance..."

The words he’d heard before falling unconscious flashed through his mind. Nie Kong couldn't help but marvel inwardly. "This kind of medicine shouldn't be classified as poison; it merely induces sleep without causing any harm to the body. Otherwise, the little fellow's innate medicinal power would have surely absorbed it already."

Thinking this, Nie Kong felt a touch of surprise. He had assumed he would only wake up after Xiangxiang successfully advanced and absorbed the medicinal power of the "Tenth-Grade Drunken God Fragrance." Yet, here he was, awake before the little one had even roused—this clearly wasn't Xiangxiang's doing.

"That seems to be Taiyan's medicinal power. I wonder how they managed it?"

Nie Kong was quite astonished. His physical body was still deeply asleep: his ears couldn't hear, his eyes couldn't see, and his limbs remained immobile. However, he could sense the condition of his meridians, spiritual-soul acupoints, and the Nine Nether Stars, and this sensation was growing clearer by the moment.

Feeling the changes within him, Nie Kong praised silently, "Taiyan truly lives up to her name as a Spirit-God Medicine Spirit. I never expected her power could also counteract the effects of the 'Tenth-Grade Drunken God Fragrance.' I should be fully awake within five minutes at most. Once I wake up, I must reward her handsomely... Ugh, perhaps not. If she hears the word 'reward,' she'll insist on fighting me again, which is clearly not a possibility."

"Hm? Not good! Why is Taiyan's power entering me too..."

Suddenly, an incomparably ferocious torrent of power surged into his body. That terrifying aura startled the daydreaming Nie Kong profoundly.

"Could it be that she sensed I absorbed Taiyan's medicinal power and now intends to devour me?"

Nie Kong could do absolutely nothing. He couldn't even manipulate his Heart Aspect, the Nine Nether Stars, or the spiritual-soul acupoints with his intent. He could only watch as that immense power rushed through the Spirit Cave at lightning speed, flooding the spiritual-soul acupoints before surging toward the meridians connected to them.

In an instant, earth-shattering changes occurred within Nie Kong’s body.

Wherever the power traveled, the Spirit Cave suddenly expanded, cracks appeared in the acupoints, and the Spirit-Treasure Essence within the meridians was violently shattered. However, to Nie Kong's surprise, although the massive power rampaged through his meridians, it showed no signs of devouring anything.

"Thank heavens! Thank heavens!"

Nie Kong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If it were 'devouring,' there would be no hope left, as even Taiyan herself couldn't control that type of consumption. As long as it wasn't 'devouring,' there was still a chance for salvation. But Nie Kong couldn't even circulate his spiritual arts right now; talking about salvation was premature.

Before long, Nie Kong was gripped by another concern: Taiyan's power kept pouring in, showing no inclination to stop. While his body was gradually recovering under the influence of the "Sleekback Grass" medicine, the speed of recovery was clearly lagging behind the speed at which the power was surging in.

In just a few seconds, that formidable power had occupied the spiritual-soul acupoints and flooded the meridians, now pushing toward his bones.

Nie Kong knew clearly that once the bones were occupied, the power would inevitably rush into the Nine Nether Stars. If even the Nether Stars were completely filled by Taiyan’s power, it wouldn't take long for his body to explode under the pressure. At that point, that power might just return to Taiyan's physical form.

What happened next unfolded exactly as Nie Kong had predicted.

The bones were packed full, followed by the First Nether Star, the Second Nether Star, the Third Nether Star... All the Spirit-Treasure Essence in Nie Kong’s acupoints and meridians, and the Divine Power within his Nether Stars, were squeezed into the corners, possessing no ability to resist in the face of Taiyan's power.

The disparity between them was simply too vast.

The power continued to flood in... soon filling the Fourth Nether Star, then reaching the Fifth Nether Star...

Watching the space storing his power being taken up bit by bit, Nie Kong felt an intense anxiety. He had never feared death and had faced mortal danger many times—like when training in the "Prison Fire Abyss Spring" space with Mu Hongling and Bai Yuqing, or when being chased by the experts of the Nether Earth Spirit Venerable Hall...

He had felt no fear!

But the longer he stayed in this world, the more attachments grew in Nie Kong's heart, and the more reluctant he became to simply die, especially to be burst apart by Taiyan’s power. This manner of death felt utterly humiliating. He cherished Taiyan dearly, and she had never harbored any ill will toward him; yet, here he was, facing death by her power. How could he bear this? Dying from being forcibly expanded felt worse than being killed by a Heavenly Spirit expert.

"Heavens, don't mess with me like this," Nie Kong muttered inwardly with a bitter smile.

Hua Mei was still waiting for him in the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm, seeing him as her pillar of strength, waiting for him to seek revenge against the Spirit God Palace together. If he died, wouldn't she lose her sole support? Long Xuechan of Dragon Island had always wished to bear him a child, a wish he hadn't fulfilled. And Long Meixian—if he died, wouldn't the child she carried have no father when born?

His mother, suppressing the Yin Void Spirit Vein in Spirit Imperial City, had been eagerly anticipating his early return to reunite with her... His two masters in Jiyang City, Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin, were looking forward to holding a disciple’s grandchild soon...

Qing Yue, that little fellow—they were bound by a "Life-and-Death Spirit Seal." If he died, she would be implicated, and the "Ghost Eagle King" he used as a mount would also have its soul scattered... And then there was Taiyan. This girl's heart was pure as white paper, and she was deeply reliant on him. If he died, how heartbroken would she be? Moreover, she was currently trapped within the Spirit Mansion and might never find a way out...

"The Ninth Nether Star... the last one!"

Nie Kong sighed helplessly, resigning himself to let the power surge in. "Once this Nether Star is occupied, I won't last much longer. Xiangxiang, the little fellow, will perish with me. I originally wanted to see what it looked like when it advanced to the peak rank, but it seems that won't happen now... Eh? My Heart Aspect seems movable. My Heart Aspect can also accommodate more of Taiyan's power!"

Nie Kong felt a surge of excitement. With a thought, his spirit immersed itself completely between his brows.

"Buzz!"

A faint trembling sound echoed.

Nie Kong's Heart Aspect suddenly opened. The power that had just filled the Ninth Nether Star seemed to have found a new vent, rushing toward the "Purple Luo Phantom Spirit Incense" Heart Aspect with the force of an overwhelming tide. Nie Kong finally breathed a sigh of relief, though the crisis was not truly over—it had only been temporarily alleviated.

... ...RO