Nie Kong nodded lightly.

Mu Zhonglou was startled.

Nie Kong smiled faintly... his voice was deep and slow, yet his tone was as firm and resolute as steel striking metal.

Mu Zhonglou was greatly shocked. This youngster actually intended to challenge the Worldly Kings and the Seventh-Rank Spirit Masters single-handedly. He truly didn't know whether to praise his magnificent spirit or deem his idea utterly insane.

Mu Zhonglou suddenly began to suspect Nie Kong was joking, yet although Nie Kong’s face held a smile, there wasn't the slightest hint of jest in his expression.

He truly intended to do it!

After a long pause, Mu Zhonglou took a deep breath and said,

Nie Kong spoke slowly and deliberately.

This was precisely why Nie Kong had chosen to seek Mu Zhong’s help.

In terms of overall strength across the entire Ling Continent, the Spirit Treasures (Lingbao) fell short of the Red Mansions (Honglou) by a considerable margin. However, the Spirit Treasures had the advantage of possessing a unique Seventh-Rank Spirit Master like Mu Zhonglou, whereas Long Zhaujun rarely left Dragon Island. The Red Mansions might have business dealings with those powerful Spirit Masters, but they would hardly know their true backgrounds.

Therefore, Nie Kong entrusted the task of collecting herbs to Long Xuechan, which was the Red Mansion’s specialty, while placing his hope of obtaining the residences of those Seventh-Rank Spirit Masters and Eighth-Rank Kings on the Mu Family Ancestor.

Mu Zhonglou sighed helplessly, "So you managed to get all this information."

"If I didn't, you wouldn't have such an outstanding junior as me, would you?" Nie Kong said with brazen cheek.

Mu Zhonglou asked with curiosity.

Mu Zhonglou’s eyes widened, filled with utter disbelief.

Nie Kong surveyed the garden with a slight smile.

This was actually a theory passed down by the Scarlet Star Tribe: there was an inherent, instinctual opposition between Herbs and Spirit Masters. Spirit Masters and Nether Pill Masters synthesized various seeds into a Spirit Pill or Nether Pill; this act could be said to defy the Way of Nature, stifling the latent spirit within the herbs.

Because of this, the herbs held an inherent repulsion towards Spirit Masters and Nether Pill Masters. The more they refined, the more pronounced this repulsion became. Consequently, the higher the rank of the item being refined, the lower the chance of success. Only by reducing this repulsion could a Seventh-Rank Spirit Master possibly break through further to become an Eighth-Rank King.

This theory was somewhat peculiar, but it wasn't entirely without merit.

Mu Zhonglou regarded Nie Kong with a strange expression for a moment, then sighed:

After a slight pause, Mu Zhonglou added,

Nie Kong was now completely relieved. Since he intended to prove his strength, then he should demonstrate it.

Saying this, Mu Zhonglou shook his head with a touch of resignation, but when his gaze fell upon Nie Kong, a hint of sly amusement appeared in his expression.

That was very simple?

You have stayed in this garden for decades and still cannot completely eliminate that repulsive feeling from the herbs, yet you claim to do it in a quarter of an hour—isn't that deliberately making things difficult?

Nie Kong couldn't help but silently grumble in his heart, but he also vaguely guessed that Mu Zhonglou intended to make him retreat in the face of difficulty, as the words he had spoken earlier to him... were indeed too arrogant.

Every person has their strengths and weaknesses. Over the past ten thousand years, even the most formidable Kings dared not claim they could challenge all other Kings, and even those who possessed such courage wouldn't claim they could utterly defeat them. If one uttered such boastful words and failed to deliver, they would become the laughingstock of the world.

Mu Zhonglou also held a degree of protectiveness towards the junior.

However, Nie Kong appreciated Mu Zhonglou's intention, but he would absolutely not retreat due to difficulty. In his thoughts, Nie Kong’s face broke into a confident smile:

Seeing Nie Kong agree so readily, Mu Zhonglou was somewhat surprised. Could this youngster truly be confident? The thought flashed, and Mu Zhonglou pulled out a finger-length red candle from his robes, lit it with a chī sound, and smiled,

Sabulala Suosuo SenlaRF