"Nie Kong, you're quite lucky to have found such a Spirit Mansion," the moment Nie Kong brought Tai Yan, currently in the form of 'Hui Mou Grass,' into the illusion array beneath the medicine tower, Hua Mei's voice echoed near his ear. However, the tone lacked its usual gentleness, carrying a hint of mockery instead.

After a brief pause, Nie Kong understood.

Evidently, Qing Yue had already informed Hua Mei about the situation here, and she knew the urgency. Without waiting for his return, she had yielded control of her body to the soul of Hua Pianxian. It was just that Hua Pianxian hadn't acted immediately, instead pacing leisurely within the illusion array.

Nie Kong frowned slightly, gazing at the delicate and lovely face opposite him, and got straight to the point: "Hua Pianxian, I believe you are fully aware of the situation here. With your understanding of illusion talismans, you must possess the ability to repair the Spirit Mansion's illusion array. This time, I hope you can offer significant assistance."

"Nie Kong, repairing the Spirit Mansion's illusion array is no difficult task for me..."

Hua Pianxian smiled faintly, glancing at the ninth ring which had begun to dim once more, before her tone abruptly shifted, "But why should I help you?"

Give you an inch, and you take a mile?

Nie Kong stated gravely, "Because your soul shares the same body as my wife, and furthermore, it is my wife who holds the dominant position. I trust she is perfectly aware of our conversation right now. If she wished, she could reclaim the body instantly, leaving you to reside back in the corner of the soul."

"Tch, what kind of ridiculous reason is that?"

Hua Pianxian pouted dismissively, "To be able to stay inside carefree, I would be delighted."

Nie Kong smiled broadly, "Since you feel that way, I have nothing more to say. Then please go back. This Spirit Mansion is about to be breached by the Spirit God Hall, and I must leave with Hua Mei soon. Coincidentally, my mother has also arrived here; after we leave, we can hold the wedding in Jiyang City."

Hua Pianxian's expression shifted slightly: "Nie Kong, don't forget your promise!"

"Of course, I haven't forgotten."

Nie Kong maintained his smile, gazing intently at Hua Pianxian, "Back in the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm, I promised you that Hua Mei would remain a virgin until I achieved the status of a Spirit God. I will certainly keep this promise. However, not through the front door, only the back door. This way, Hua Mei can maintain her chastity, and my wife and I can enjoy some **— a mutually beneficial outcome, why not? I imagine my wife wouldn't object either. What do you think, Hua Pianxian?"

"Nie Kong, you are shameless!"

Hua Pianxian had long understood the implications of 'front door' and 'back door.' Her fair, pretty face instantly flushed crimson, and she glared at Nie Kong almost through gritted teeth.

Nie Kong chuckled lightly, "I can understand your anger, considering you've been a virgin for thousands of years. It just truly irritates me that such an amusing prospect appears so vulgar in your eyes. Fortunately, after we marry, Hua Mei and I will have plenty of time to let you fully appreciate the joy of it."

"Obscene! Filthy!"

Hua Pianxian's beautiful face burned like fire, her anger born of shame. "Nie Kong, you win!"

"Then what are you waiting for? Go repair the illusion array! Now! Immediately!"

The smile on Nie Kong's face suddenly turned cold. "If we lose this Spirit Mansion, Hua Mei and I will immediately return to Jiyang City, and then I'll let you sample the taste of the back door being conquered."

"You..."

Hua Pianxian, the former Spirit God expert and the revered ancestor of the Flower Spirit Clan, had never been berated like this, let alone with such despicable words. She was so enraged that her pretty face looked as if it might spill blood, and her prominent chest rose and fell violently; she desperately wished to smash the hateful face opposite her.

Nie Kong sneered, "You are running out of time!"

"..."

Hua Pianxian bit her red lip, finally taking a deep breath, shooting Nie Kong a fierce glare, and then her figure flashed rapidly as she arrived at the ninth ring on the edge of the illusion array.

"Nie Kong, you really are a bit shameless!"

Qing Yue flapped her small arms, swaying as she floated over, looking at Hua Pianxian's retreating back with some sympathy, then mockingly said, "But Grandma likes it. Especially that sentence where you scolded her—it had such momentum, it startled Grandma quite a bit."

Nie Kong flicked her forehead with a finger, annoyed.

Indeed, his words about threatening Hua Pianxian with taking Hua Mei's back door were rather base. If he hadn't been forced, he wouldn't have resorted to such a method to coerce Hua Pianxian into compliance. But this Spirit Mansion was extremely important to Nie Kong, and also very important to Hua Mei—it was the foundation for avenging her.

"Big Brother..."

The Ghost Soul Eagle King crawled over obsequiously, panting heavily with its mouth open, tongue lolling, a bit of drool still at the corner of its mouth, putting on an exhausted display.

Even though he knew the Ghost Soul Eagle King was deliberately acting that way to gain his sympathy, Nie Kong didn't hold back his praise, "Ghost Soul, you returned just in time. Rest assured, I have not forgotten what I promised you. Perhaps it won't take three years before I lift the restriction on you."

"Caw!"

The Ghost Soul Eagle King hopped excitedly.

Hulu asked from afar, his voice childish, his white forehead covered with the words 'I don't understand': "Nie Kong, what is a front door, and what is a back door?"

"Little brat needs to stay pure!" Before Nie Kong could answer, Qing Yue pounced on him with bared teeth and claws, scaring Hulu so much that he tumbled repeatedly in the air, fleeing in all directions.

"..."

Nie Kong paid them no further mind, flashing a few times until he stood beside Hua Pianxian. Since the great door closed several days ago, the dim illusion talisman at this ninth ring had grown brighter, and by yesterday morning, it was almost comparable to the surrounding talismans.

But starting just now, the talisman was beginning to dim again.

Moreover, the light was receding with alarming speed—it was easy to imagine the intensity of the attacks launched by the six 'Spiritual Intent Deification Diagrams' outside.

After observing for a few moments, Hua Pianxian pulled out an exquisitely crafted carving knife from her embrace...

There was only a handle, no blade?

"Clang!"

Hua Pianxian lightly pressed her thumb, and a streak of scarlet, radiant light shot out. The blade sprang directly from the handle, extending to a length of four feet, though it was only as wide as a thumb—exceptionally sharp. The entire blade was a vibrant, glistening crimson, perfectly smooth, like red jade.

A switchblade?

Nie Kong was somewhat surprised; this was the first time he had seen such an item since arriving on the Tian Ling Continent.

The sharp tip of the blade rapidly sketched several shapes in the air above the illusion talisman. Hua Pianxian, holding the long carving knife, kept retreating until her back collided hard against Nie Kong's chest. Hua Pianxian frowned, deeply displeased: "Nie Kong, go stand aside! Don't just stand there like an idiot, getting in the way!"

"..."

This woman has quite the vengeful spirit!

Although Nie Kong was displeased with Hua Pianxian's veiled jab, he knew this wasn't the time to quarrel with her. He quietly stepped back a few paces!

"Good boy!"

Hua Pianxian giggled as if she had finally won a great victory after being suppressed for so long. She let out a few charming laughs and aimed the long carving knife at the illusion talisman again.

Nie Kong took a deep breath.

I will endure!