The shock brought by the green-robed bandit had barely faded from everyone's minds when another Heaven Spirit realm expert shouted aloud. Almost reflexively, everyone quickly followed his gaze, spotting a young and beautiful woman in a red robe walking gracefully into view, drawing nearer and nearer to the Spirit Sealing Stele.

The dozens of people gathered here were all Heaven Spirit realm experts; even if their complexions were youthful, their ages were certainly not small. Yet, despite their vast experience, none had ever encountered a woman so beautiful, as if the most exquisite features from across heaven and earth had been perfectly assembled into her captivating, world-toppling countenance.

Especially her eyes—they were as clear as a newborn infant's, utterly devoid of any impurity.

Her unparalleled beauty, her purely lucid gaze, and her gracefully curvaceous figure converged flawlessly, imbuing the woman in red with a unique, subtle enchantment. Even the Heaven Spirit experts, caught by surprise, couldn't help but freeze for a moment. Once they recovered their senses, however, their caution only deepened.

This woman in red appearing so abruptly in the Spirit Sealing Marsh could not possibly be here for a casual stroll; she must also be aiming for the Medicine Spirit Illusory Realm. Anyone with such ambition was, at the very least, a Medicine Spirit Master! She appeared sequentially after the green-robed man; did the two share some connection?

The woman in red remained exceptionally calm, utterly unconcerned by the focused gazes upon her, merely continuing to move her slender, exquisite legs. In a short time, under the scrutiny of more than a hundred pairs of eyes, she stepped onto the stairs one by one, walking directly toward the Spirit Sealing Stele.

Seeing this, the Heaven Spirit experts felt a surge of astonishment.

"Why is she still walking forward?"

"Looking at her, does she think she's going to confront the Spirit God Hall right now?"

"Unlikely. No matter how strong she is, she’s just one person, and the Spirit God Hall has sixteen members."

"..."

While those around were merely surprised, a tempest raged within Gu Changgong’s chest. He was now absolutely certain that the green-robed man who had departed on the eagle earlier was Nie Kong.

Others didn't know it, but he had met this woman in the underground secret chamber of the inner city of Spirit Control City, and he knew her name was Tai Yan, apparently a Medicine Spirit, possessing formidable strength.

Nie Kong and Tai Yan had appeared near the center almost without any warning. Furthermore, in the preceding days, Nie Kong and that black eagle had been busy snatching spirit herbs and driving off Spirit Masters in the "Spirit Sealing Marsh," only to suddenly vanish until now, just as the Illusory Realm was about to fully open. Could it be... "Nie Kong has already found the Illusory Realm, and perhaps even entered it?"

A bold thought suddenly flashed through Gu Changgong’s mind, startling him with its audacity. How precious the Medicine Spirit Illusory Realm was could be glimpsed just by the spirit herbs that had inexplicably surfaced recently. He himself, being a low-grade Spirit Alchemist, was drawn here by those herbs.

If Nie Kong had truly found the Illusory Realm, it meant he possessed an enormous treasury of spirit herbs.

After all these days, Nie Kong and Tai Yan might have already taken all the good things inside. When those fellows from the Spirit God Hall finally exhausted themselves opening the realm, only to find it filled with worthless junk, what expression would they wear?

For a moment, Gu Changgong's expression became quite peculiar.

But soon, Gu Changgong frowned. After stepping onto the final stair, Tai Yan actually walked toward Zhan Qiong, who had just returned to his original spot.

Did she really intend to clash with those members of the Spirit God Hall?

If that were the case, perhaps Nie Kong hadn't had time to take everything... Gu Changgong worried secretly. If the two sides fought, given his status as the Hall Master of the Heart of Medicine Pavilion in Spirit Control City, it would be improper for him to rashly intervene and offer aid.

"Stop right there!"

Zhan Qiong, only just regaining his composure, saw the woman in red heading straight toward him as if they were acquainted, and immediately roared in anger. Did she think that just because he couldn't handle that green-robed bandit, he was a soft persimmon whom even a woman dared to provoke?

Tai Yan’s steps did not falter, her voice delicate: "I will not stop."

Zhan Qiong sneered: "You won't stop? Do you wish to die?"

"I don't wish to die!" Tai Yan lightly shook her head, yet her delicate feet showed no sign of pausing, and the distance between her and Zhan Qiong continued to shrink.

Zhan Qiong gritted his teeth: "If you don't want to die, then stop!"

"I don't want to die, and I also don't want to stop—what should I do then?" Tai Yan appeared like an innocent inquirer, her beautiful eyes blinking rapidly as she looked at Zhan Qiong.

"You..."

Zhan Qiong was left speechless, nearly dizzy from Tai Yan’s manner of speaking.

Witnessing this scene, the surrounding Heaven Spirit experts couldn't help but erupt in a burst of laughter. Even Gu Changgong, who had experienced this in the inner city of Spirit Control City, couldn't help but shake his head and smile wryly. Talking with this Tai Yan could sometimes drive a person mad, especially when she maintained an air of complete innocence after infuriating them, making one want to spit blood.

The laughter stung his eardrums, and Zhan Qiong’s old face flushed slightly. He roared in anger: "You woman, stop fooling around in front of me! If you don't stop now, don't blame me for taking you down by force!"

Hearing this, Tai Yan’s eyes lit up, and she let out a joyful cheer with a beaming smile: "Great, great! Come and hit me then! If you don't dare hit me, are you a turtle bastard?" Nie Kong had told her to come and harass the Spirit God Hall members first. However, she was unaccustomed to initiating an attack; it would be better if someone struck first. Then she wouldn't have to do anything to drive them away. Thus, she deployed the "Turtle Bastard" phrase she had learned from Qing Yue.

"..."

The surrounding laughter ceased abruptly. Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. They had assumed this woman was also a Heaven Spirit expert of the same caliber, but to hear her say something so naive?

"Do you really think I won't strike?"

"Hurry up! Hurry up!"

"You, you..."

Zhan Qiong was boiling with shame and rage. By his usual nature, he would have attacked long ago; he wouldn't have babbled nonsense with her endlessly. But for some reason today, upon seeing her pure eyes, he felt a strange reluctance to strike a delicate flower cruelly.

But now, his patience had reached its limit.

The white-haired elder standing nearby couldn't help but frown: "Zhan Qiong, what are you dawdling for?"

"Yes."

The slight lingering tenderness Zhan Qiong felt was instantly incinerated by the surging anger in his chest. He let out a fierce roar, unleashing his right palm. An incomparably violent black aura, like a ribbon, swept toward Tai Yan, who was still advancing, tearing the void itself in two wherever it passed.

Tai Yan neither dodged nor shielded herself, instantly swallowed by that mass of darkness.

Seeing this, everyone’s hearts skipped a beat. This woman neither fought back nor retreated; did she truly believe her physical body could withstand the attack of an Earth Element Heaven Spirit Master? However, just as this thought crossed their minds, everyone noticed a faint red light subtly piercing through the interior of that shadow.