Each red dot likely represents a Heaven Spirit realm expert; who knows how many are from the Spirit God Palace among them? Nie Kong remained silent, but Qing Yue couldn't hold back, "Little Gourd, can't you control the illusion array? How could you let those guys outside break through eight barriers consecutively?"

"My name is Gourd, not Little Gourd."

Gourd huffily corrected him. "I'm not the master of this Spirit Mansion; I'm just a Pill Spirit. I've been pondering for a long time, and I can only manipulate parts of the illusion array, and it takes a huge effort. Bringing you in has already exhausted me half to death. Then, I kept releasing poisonous gas, which drained the rest of my power. Before I could fully recover, those fellows had already started making their move."

Hearing this, Qing Yue couldn't help but chuckle mockingly, "Little Gourd, you brought this upon yourself. If you hadn't dealt with us, none of this mess would have happened, right?"

"..."

Gourd glared fiercely at Qing Yue with his round eyes for a moment before muttering resentfully, "It wouldn't have mattered even if I hadn't dealt with you. The few guys at the very front somehow got their hands on six 'Spirit Intent Deification Diagrams.' They gathered the divine power of Wind, Thunder, Water, Fire, Earth, and Darkness to dismantle the illusion talismans on the 'Spirit Sealing Stele,' found the entrance passage to the Spirit Mansion, and then used those six diagrams to break the Spirit Mansion's barriers..."

Nie Kong inquired, "What are the 'Spirit Intent Deification Diagrams'?"

"They are extremely powerful talisman artifacts, specifically used on the Illusory Spirit Continent to crack open Spirit Mansions."

Gourd said irritably, "But their six 'Spirit Intent Deification Diagrams' aren't very authentic. It's a pity this Spirit Mansion has no master; otherwise, with the master manipulating the illusion array, those shoddy 'Spirit Intent Deification Diagrams' wouldn't even be able to break the illusion talismans on the Spirit Sealing Stele."

"How do you control this illusion array?"

Nie Kong felt a knot of anxiety in his heart. Inside the ring representing the ninth barrier, the light projected by the illusion talismans was gradually dimming. Clearly, the Heaven Spirit experts outside were using the 'Spirit Intent Deification Diagrams' to dismantle the Spirit Mansion's final line of defense. If they got in, it would all be over.

Gourd's eyes darted around, and he didn't answer directly, instead asking cunningly, "You... you really are willing to let me leave?"

Nie Kong was speechless. He hadn't expected this little thing still didn't fully trust him, but it was understandable; after all, this was their first formal meeting, and his previous actions had offended Gourd quite badly. Nie Kong had no choice but to stare directly into Gourd's eyes and say almost word by word, "I am!"

Gourd grunted again, "How do I know you're telling the truth? What if you trick me again?"

Qing Yue rolled her eyes heavenward. "Little brat, what is there about you worth tricking us for? You're not tasty, eating you won't increase cultivation, and your cultivation is so weak that even my grandmother, the weakest of us, is stronger than you... What benefit is there in tricking you? If I really wanted to eat you, Grandma would have snatched you up and swallowed you whole long ago, instead of wasting time chattering here?"

"That's right, you're so cute, none of us would eat you!" Seeing Gourd’s round cheeks droop in dejection, Tai Yan quickly comforted him with a sweet smile. However, hearing her words, Gourd flinched, his little mouth pouted, looking as if he was about to burst into tears again.

"You have no choice but to believe."

Nie Kong said in a deep voice, "Of course, you can also choose not to believe. It probably won't take long before they break the final barrier and enter the Spirit Mansion. At that time, we can only end up with nothing, and the best outcome for you is choosing which one of us captures and eats you, while I can leave safely, just without obtaining the Spirit Mansion."

Gourd pouted, whimpering, "Big bad guy, I believe you. Do you see the array core in the center of the illusion array? Controlling the illusion array is simple; just send spiritual energy into it. As long as you can illuminate all the illusion talismans, you can unleash the full power of the entire array."

Following Gourd's gaze, Nie Kong indeed spotted a green dot at the very center of the illusion array. Exchanging a look with Tai Yan, Nie Kong moved slightly and swiftly flew toward it.

The dot was less than a meter in diameter, slightly raised about an inch from the ground, resembling a meditation cushion. In front of the cushion stood a circular pillar about a foot high, also carved with dense illusion talismans. Nie Kong didn't hesitate; he sat cross-legged onto the green dot, placing his right palm lightly against the top of the pillar.

He let out a light breath, and Nie Kong's mind instantly quieted. His acupoints vibrated intensely; the "Yin-Yang Spirit Devouring Art" operated rapidly, and the primal power of Nature flowed swiftly through his meridians. In an instant, it reached his right palm along his arm and then, like a fierce beast escaping its cage, surged outward uncontrollably.

This primal power of Nature was completely transparent and emitted no aura; even when unleashed, it was difficult to capture with the naked eye, and impossible to detect with spiritual sense. If it weren't the very power Nie Kong had cultivated, even he might not have been able to sense its existence.

Gourd, trailing Tai Yan, Qing Yue, and Xiang Xiang, floated nervously about ten meters away from Nie Kong. Seeing no reaction from the illusion array after Nie Kong sat down, Gourd couldn't help but shake his head, saying in his tender voice, "I knew it was useless. Back on the Illusory Spirit Continent, controlling the illusion array of a Spirit Mansion required a Ninth Grade peak expert supported by a 'Saint Illusory Spirit Master.' Big Bad Guy’s strength is only comparable to those people outside, maybe an Eighth Grade Illusory Spirit Master. That's still far from a Ninth Grade Saint Illusory Spirit Master. If the Great Medicine Spirit tried it, it might still be..."

"Ah!"

Before he could finish speaking, Gourd shrieked, his little mouth wide open and his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at the illusion talismans on the ground.

It turned out that while Gourd was speaking, the illusion talismans surrounding the green dot suddenly burst forth with a dazzling, mesmerizing emerald light. Then, this green light spread out like a tide, centered on Nie Kong, rapidly undulating along the lines in all directions, moving at incredible speed.

Wherever the green light passed, the dim and lusterless illusion talismans were instantly lit up, and those with only a faint glow became even more brilliant. In just a few seconds, the green light surged from the array core in the center of the illusion array to the very edges, filling the entire vast space with dazzling luminescence.

"Why was it so easy?"

Gourd was dumbfounded, but Tai Yan and Qing Yue were beaming. Neither of them expected Nie Kong to illuminate the entire illusion array—the nexus of the Spirit Mansion—so effortlessly.

Nie Kong opened his eyes and smiled faintly, "Because I am a Wood Spirit Master."

He had originally intended to use his primal power of Nature to light up the array, but after making the attempt, he realized it was impossible. The little fellow had already absorbed nearly half of his primal power, and what remained was insufficient to supply the entire illusion array. Fortunately, Nie Kong could use his primal power to stimulate the hidden vitality within the illusion talismans. Once the vitality became active, the illusion array would naturally light up and resume operation.

... ...