The illusory formation flared to life, presenting its current state clearly within Nie Kong's mind. The moment he finished speaking, Nie Kong’s attention shifted to the entrance of the Spirit Mansion. The phantom talisman of the Ninth Ring neither dimmed further nor brightened like the surrounding talismans; it seemed utterly stagnant.

The Gourd also withdrew its gaze from that spot, its childlike voice tinged with regret: "What a pity, you arrived too late. They have already broken through the first eight layers of barriers. While the recovery of the illusory formation has stabilized the situation at the ninth barrier, it’s only a temporary delay. At most five hours, and their six copies of the 'Spiritual Intent Deification Diagram' will break through the final barrier and storm into the Spirit Mansion."

Qing Yue retorted irritably, "If you hadn't locked us up, we would already be the masters of the Spirit Mansion. How could this have happened?"

The Gourd pouted. "If I hadn't locked you in, you wouldn't have even entered the Spirit Mansion. You’d either be driven away by the fellows outside like that Black Hawk, or be stuck like those villains now, blocked by the ninth barrier. Even if you got inside, the best you could hope for would be a few medicinal herbs."

Qing Yue was so choked with anger her eyes bulged fiercely. "Oh ho, you little brat, you've learned to talk back. If it weren't for us, you’d just be caught and eaten."

"..."

That statement struck the Gourd right where it hurt. He immediately wilted like a frostbitten eggplant, only managing a few defiant snorts from his nose.

Nie Kong waved his hand. "Let's not bring up the past. Gourd, is there a way to salvage this?"

"There is a way, though not an easy one."

The Gourd drooped his head dejectedly. "Drive those bastards outside away, and then find an Illusion Talisman Master to repair the eight disintegrated barriers and the phantom talismans on the Spirit Sealing Stele. If you do that, as long as you keep the illusory formation running, forget those six inferior 'Spiritual Intent Deification Diagrams'—even authentic ones would struggle to force their way into the Spirit Mansion."

After a slight pause, the Gourd mumbled on, "Or, if you can't drive the external villains away, just keep them pinned outside the ninth barrier so they can't fully utilize the 'Spiritual Intent Deification Diagram.' That way, the Illusion Talisman Master can repair the talismans from the inside out, though it will take more time."

Nie Kong frowned deeply upon hearing this. "That's all nonsense. The Illusory Spirit Continent shattered ten thousand years ago; this is the Heavenly Spirit Continent now. Where would we find an Illusion Talisman Master?"

"That's true."

The Gourd said cautiously, "How about we run to the Spirit Mansion exit first and hide? When they break through the ninth barrier, we can slip out during the commotion. They’ll be so focused on their success that they probably won't notice anything else, and we can escape safely."

Qing Yue bared her teeth and sneered sarcastically, "Little brat, should we cover your escape first, so you can get out safely?"

The Gourd’s face lit up with joy. "Really? Really? If you’re willing, that would be wonderful! I know there’s a palace inside the Spirit Mansion storing many talismanic artifacts. I can take you there to retrieve some first, and then we can wait by the entrance. With those artifacts, you’ll definitely be very safe."

Seeing that the Gourd had taken her words seriously, Qing Yue was utterly speechless. "Daydreaming, little brat! If we truly had to flee, your grandmother here would be the first to catch you and hand you over to those things to eat!"

"Villain!"

The Gourd instantly froze, staring blankly at Qing Yue for a long moment before managing two words through his round little mouth, looking so wronged he was almost in tears.

Just then, Tai Yan couldn't help but remind him, "Brother, doesn't Sister Hua Mei know how to carve phantom talismans?"

"Hua Mei?"

Nie Kong's tightly furrowed brow immediately smoothed out, and a wave of relief washed over him. "Ah, how could I forget her?" The "her" Nie Kong mentioned was not Hua Mei, but Hua Pianxian, who had transformed from a phoenix back into a chick.

Hua Mei had only just begun learning phantom talismans, so repairing the Spirit Mansion's illusory formation was likely beyond her capability. But Hua Pianxian was different. She was inherently a Grandmaster-level Spirit Pattern Master. After entering the "Grand Sovereign Spirit Realm," it was rumored she had systematically studied phantom talismans under someone from the "Divine Void Realm."

While phantom talismans are not identical to spirit patterns, spirit patterns were derived from the phantom talismans within those talismanic artifacts, meaning there were certain commonalities. Hua Pianxian had only studied for a few years before transitioning from a Spirit Pattern Master to a highly accomplished Illusion Talisman Master. With her expertise, repairing the formation would not be an issue.

However, Nie Kong quickly shook his head with a wry smile. "The Nu Cang Mountain Range is too far from the Great Perfection Empire. Traveling from here to the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm and back would take more than ten days. By the time Hua Mei arrives, the Heavenly Spirit experts outside will have long since broken the barrier and stormed the Spirit Mansion."

"It won't take that long; half the time will suffice."

The Gourd suddenly spoke up timidly. Seeing the six pairs of eyes staring intently at him, he quickly added, "There is a specially made talismanic artifact in the Spirit Mansion called the 'Spirit Returning Jade Casket.' As long as you are not in a different space from the Spirit Mansion, no matter how far, activating the Jade Casket will bring you back here instantly."

"Oh?"

Nie Kong was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. "Have the Soul Spirit take the 'Spirit Returning Jade Casket' to the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm. She can then arrive directly at the Spirit Mansion. Calculating it out, perhaps six or seven days will be enough. If we can make the ninth barrier hold out for that period until Hua Mei arrives, the tide will turn!"

Saying this, Nie Kong’s smile widened. "Gourd, where are those 'Spirit Returning Jade Caskets,' and how many are left?"

The Gourd hurried to answer, "They are in that palace storing talismanic artifacts I mentioned. I estimate there are several hundred left; I never counted, but every Spirit Mansion always keeps the 'Spirit Returning Jade Caskets' stocked—they are essential, so the reserves are the largest."

"Excellent!"

Nie Kong was even more delighted. "Tai Yan, you and the Gourd go fetch a good number of 'Spirit Returning Jade Caskets,' then meet me at the Spirit Mansion exit... Hmm, Qing Yue should go too."

Initially, Nie Kong only planned to send Tai Yan with the Gourd. But after a second thought, having Qing Yue go along was safer. The Gourd looked innocent and cute, but one must guard against deceit, and Tai Yan was too naive. If he were tricked, it would be a huge problem; having Qing Yue along offered extra security.

"Mmm-hmm."

Tai Yan nodded repeatedly. Qing Yue, the little imp, also grasped why Nie Kong was including her. She beamed, patted her chest, and guaranteed, "Nie Kong, leave this task to your grandmother; there absolutely won't be any mistakes." Both of them then looked pointedly at the Gourd.

"Follow me."

The Gourd didn't try any tricks. He carefully circled around the two of them, especially Qing Yue, and drifted toward the stairs at the edge of the illusory formation. Once they left, Nie Kong had Xiang Xiang, that little creature, return to the Spirit God Acupoint, then channeled a stream of primal natural energy into the formation core before drifting out himself.

A moment later, deep within the primeval forest a thousand li from the Spirit Sealing Swamp, the Soul Spirit Eagle King, who had been leisurely preening its feathers, suddenly froze. Its eyeballs instantly flashed with excitement. "Wonderful! They actually made it into the Spirit Mansion... What's a Spirit Mansion? Never mind that, my backer is back anyway... Huh? I have to return to the Spirit Sealing Swamp first, and then go to the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm? Damn it, they're using this old bird as cheap labor again..."

The Soul Spirit Eagle King flapped its wings and shot straight into the sky, its cursing shrieks echoing faintly through the air...

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