Nie Kong's fingers slid over the front of his robe, and a scroll, about the thickness of a thumb, materialized in his palm. He tossed it across the several meters separating him from You Li.

The scroll was made of a peculiar material known as 'Spirit Rune Paper,' an expensive substance costing millions of gold coins per sheet. Low-grade Spirit Rune Masters with the means often used it to inscribe spirit runes because errors could be easily erased by simply sweeping away the spiritual energy.

You Li's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly as she caught the scroll and slowly unfurled it. Seconds later, her pupils contracted sharply, and a trace of astonishment blossomed across her pale face.

Seeing this, Kui Yin, Lei He, and Ming Tai couldn't help but exchange uneasy glances, their minds racing with speculation. After a moment, You Li took a soft breath, waved her hand lightly, and the scroll drifted over to Kui Yin.

Kui Yin hastily grabbed it, his eyes widening as he looked. Immediately, the curiosity in his gaze was replaced by sheer shock. Lei He and Ming Tai could no longer restrain themselves; their figures flashed, and they moved almost simultaneously from You Li's right side to her left to peer at the scroll in Kui Yin's grasp. Written there in two stark lines of crimson characters were: On this day, month, and year, Nie Kong defeated Mu Wanqing, the Medicine King of Yin Xu, in the Spirit Sealing Marsh!

On this day, month, and year, in Luocheng's Mu Family, the Eighth-Grade Medicine King Mu Chonglou was defeated by the hand of Nie Kong!

Just like Kui Yin, uncontrollable shock instantly flooded the eyes of Lei He and Ming Tai.

This Nie Kong had actually defeated two Medicine Kings consecutively!

Such defeats could not possibly be attributed to a disparity in cultivation, but rather to a loss in the Dao of Alchemy.

Legend held that Nie Kong’s mother was the former Sect Master of the Mu Sect in Yin Xu. While it was plausible that Medicine King Mu Wanqing had gone easy on him, Mu Chonglou of Luocheng would never concede lightly. This was proven by the signatures of both Mu Wanqing and Mu Chonglou appended beneath the red script, signatures that each contained the spiritual imprint of a Celestial Spirit expert.

This evidence was absolutely impossible to fake!

If he hadn't truly lost, why would Mu Chonglou leave his spiritual imprint on this sheet of Spirit Rune Paper?

After all, if this paper were to circulate, Mu Chonglou's reputation would suffer a crippling blow.

"Mu Chonglou is a Medicine King? I heard he was only a Seventh-Grade Spirit Alchemist?" The Spirit Rune Paper floated back toward You Li. Kui Yin suddenly questioned.

You Li took the paper back, her voice deep and steady. "Mu Chonglou possessed the strength of an Eighth-Grade Medicine King two years ago, though very few people know this. I am quite close with Mu Chonglou and know him intimately... The spiritual energy signature within this imprint matches his perfectly."

"..."

Hearing You Li confirm this, Kui Yin, Lei He, and Ming Tai were left speechless.

"Sect Master You Li, does this sheet of Spirit Rune Paper carry as much weight as the certification of an Eighth-Grade Spirit Alchemist from the Medicine Terrace?" Nie Kong asked with an easy smile.

When Nie Kong had shown the first line of red text to Mu Wanqing upon leaving the Spirit Manor, she had nearly beaten him senseless. In the end, Nie Kong had performed three consecutive refinements of Eighth-Grade spirit medicine, achieving fusion rates above ninety percent, before he secured her spiritual imprint.

He had done all this specifically to increase the weight of his words. Lacking the certification of an Eighth-Grade Spirit Alchemist himself, if he simply showed up unannounced without powerful proof, he might not even be granted an audience with a Medicine King, let alone challenge one.

He couldn't exactly attack the mountain gate every time.

In Luocheng, Mu Chonglou had guessed Nie Kong's intentions. After only a moment's hesitation, he granted Nie Kong’s request. This was primarily because Nie Kong's performance in the medicinal garden had convinced him entirely. Otherwise, Mu Chonglou would never have left his signature and spiritual imprint on that paper.

"More than sufficient."

You Li no longer held even a trace of disdain for the young man barely in his twenties. Her expression grew serious. "Although Mu Chonglou became an Eighth-Grade Medicine King recently, his affinity with medicinal herbs ranks among the top three of all Medicine Kings. Did you defeat him in that aspect to obtain his spiritual imprint?"

Nie Kong chuckled. "In his medicinal garden, there were ten stalks of 'Ink Heart Thorn' that had remained defiant and resistant for decades. Within the space of fifteen minutes, I made all ten of those 'Ink Heart Thorns' completely submit."

"It was that..."

Kui Yin, Lei He, and Ming Tai were completely bewildered, but You Li was visibly shaken. "I heard Mu Chonglou mention those ten 'Ink Heart Thorns.' You accomplished in fifteen minutes what he couldn't achieve in decades. No wonder he was thoroughly convinced... Nie Kong, how do you wish to spar with me?"

Nie Kong smiled faintly. "As you wish... as long as it pertains to alchemy! If I lose, these three medicinal herbs... I will give to the Immortal Hunting Sect."

As he spoke, Nie Kong pulled herbs from his robes and casually placed them before him.

The first herb was bluish, only two to three inches long, tapered sharply at both the top and root, resembling a spindle, with many fine hairs covering its surface. The second herb was dark brown, shaped like a lotus seed pod. The third was pure white, like a slender stalk of rice straw.

"Azure Heart Fish Eye!"

"Ink Fragrance Top Feather!"

"Bound Snow Needle!"

You Li gasped sharply. These three herbs, though only parts taken from the whole plant, were each sufficient for four or five alchemical refinements.

After a moment of shock, You Li felt a pang of heartache. Which of these herbs wasn't priceless and rare, almost impossible to acquire even with wealth? Yet, Nie Kong had simply tossed them onto the ground as if they were common 'Heaven Heart Seeds'!

Forcing down the urge to immediately secure these three herbs in a box, You Li tore her gaze away from the floor and looked back at Nie Kong. "And if I lose, what then?"

"It's simple. You only need to write a line of text on this Spirit Rune Paper, following the previous examples, leave your spiritual imprint, and then visit my Spirit Manor to help me with a small favor. These three herbs will also be given to your esteemed sect, and when you leave the Spirit Manor, I have even more precious herbs to offer as a gift."

Nie Kong smiled, feeling a touch of admiration for You Li's vast knowledge. Of these three herbs, he only recognized the name of the 'Ink Fragrance Top Feather'; the other two were seen for the first time on the eighth floor of the Medicine Tower in the Spirit Manor. He hadn't expected the Medicine King of the Immortal Hunting Sect to identify them instantly.

"...Sect Master, absolutely not!"

Before You Li could speak, Kui Yin, Lei He, and Ming Tai could no longer remain silent. They practically spoke in unison, attempting to dissuade her. Losing a spar was one thing, but being forced to enter Nie Kong's Spirit Manor to assist—once on his territory, who knew what might happen.

Seeing their anxious expressions, You Li hesitated slightly.

Nie Kong deliberately smiled, "If you fear defeat, Great Sect Master, you may also refuse to spar with me. However, you only need to write: In this year, month, and day, Nie Kong challenged the Immortal Hunting Sect, and the Eighth-Grade Medicine King You Li, fearing defeat, refused to accept the challenge. The three herbs will remain with your sect; consider them my initial gift to the Great Sect Master."

"Nie Kong, you are far too presumptuous!"

Kui Yin erupted in fury, springing to his feet and shouting sternly. Lei He and Ming Tai also showed clear anger on their faces. The atmosphere in the hall instantly grew tense.