"Buzz!"

With a low tremor, the cauldron lid immediately sprang open. You Li took the jade bottle and tipped a few measures into the cauldron. With a hiss, a loud bang erupted, and white mist billowed up, releasing a dense medicinal fragrance that instantly invigorated the spirit and refreshed the mind. It was as if one were completely enveloped by the scent, a feeling of intoxication arising naturally.

The instant the medicinal aroma spread, Feng Chong's fingers tapped the spiritual inscription timer. The twisting, patterned lines instantly froze, revealing three characters.

"How long!"

You Li took a deep breath, lifting her eyelids slightly.

"Three thirty-nine."

Hearing Feng Chong's voice, Nie Kong secretly praised him. Although he hadn't yet seen the true form of the "Nine Refinements Divine Incense," merely from the medicinal scent he had just perceived, he could already judge that the spiritual medicine You Li had refined achieved an integration degree of eighty-six percent, infinitesimally close to eighty-seven percent.

A seventh-grade spiritual medicine with an integration degree of eighty-six percent, refined in just over two minutes—such speed could indeed be called divine.

Faced with You Li's refining speed, any Medicine King might feel immense pressure.

"Whoosh!"

With a wave of her right hand, You Li sent the medicine cauldron sliding across the ground to Nie Kong. "You can take a good look at the 'Nine Refinements Divine Incense' I just refined."

Nie Kong was not polite and directly took the spiritual medicine from the cauldron. It was a snow-white lump, unlike the oval shape of most pills, but perfectly round. When he gently squeezed it with his hand, it felt quite elastic, as if it were a hollow little rubber ball inside.

"Good medicine!"

Placing the spiritual medicine back into the cauldron, Nie Kong praised, "If I'm not mistaken, this spiritual medicine should be capable of elevating the cultivation rank of a Pill Spirit Master."

You Li gave a slight nod: "The method for refining this type of spiritual medicine is very simple. It doesn't require adding medicine midway; only the final moment of 'Blood Molten Spirit Slurry' irrigation is needed to complete the pill. With your ability, after watching my demonstration, you should have a very clear understanding of fire control. Refining this medicine requires no fancy techniques; what it demands is fire power that grows stronger with each step, with each subsequent increase being at least double the previous intensity."

Nie Kong laughed, "The refining process for this 'Nine Refinements Divine Incense' is indeed simple. However, although it is a seventh-grade spiritual medicine, it would likely be extremely difficult for a seventh-grade Medicine Master to succeed in refining it. Only an eighth-grade Medicine King with fierce fire power like Great Sect Master You Li can do it with such ease."

Handing the "Nine Refinements Divine Incense" to Feng Chong, You Li said, "Nie Kong, if you regret your choice, you can select a spiritual medicine you are proficient in. I will give you this final chance."

Nie Kong refused You Li's offer: "No need; this one will suffice!"

"Good! When you are ready, start refining!" You Li flicked her sleeve, and the wooden tray slid weightlessly before Nie Kong.

"I can start right now."

Nie Kong smiled. He recognized all the medicines in the thirteen medicine boxes and had tasted them personally. While he hadn't tasted the "Blood Molten Spirit Slurry" in the bottle, he knew its medicinal properties very clearly. Furthermore, after observing You Li's addition process, he understood the precise quantity of each drug—there was no need for further preparation.

However, just as You Li prepared to push the medicine cauldron toward Nie Kong, he unbuckled the small bundle from his shoulder and spread it open on the ground, revealing an exquisitely crafted purple medicine cauldron.

"Great Sect Master, I will use my own cauldron," Nie Kong chuckled.

Before entering the mountain, Nie Kong had already deployed the "Medicine Cauldron Illusion Body" and then packed it away. After all, the little fellow's cauldron was already quite large, and it was inconvenient to pull it out of his robes. Most importantly, since the "Medicine Cauldron Illusion Body" had reached the eighth tier, its duration was extremely long, enough to last until Nie Kong left the Immortal Hunting Mountain Range.

The reason for deploying the "Medicine Cauldron Illusion Body" was simple: Nie Kong didn't just need a victory; he needed an overwhelming victory that left no room for any sliver of chance. Although Nie Kong was confident of winning even with an ordinary cauldron, the effect would never be as potent as using the "Medicine Cauldron Illusion Body."

"Very well!"

After scrutinizing Nie Kong's cauldron for a moment, You Li nodded slightly.

Kui Yin and the other two beside her couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Although they didn't understand alchemy, the Great Sect Master was the Medicine King of the Immortal Hunting Sect, and through constant exposure, they knew that while spiritual masters preferred using cauldrons that felt comfortable in their hands, carrying one's own cauldron at all times was an absolute sign of immaturity.

Nie Kong ignored the mocking gazes from Kui Yin and the others, smiling as he signaled to Feng Chong.

"Clang!"

With a mere thought, the cauldron lid sprang open. The speed at which the thirteen medicinal ingredients and the "Blood Molten Spirit Slurry" entered the cauldron was in no way inferior to You Li's refining pace. With a flick of his finger, the cauldron settled into his right palm. Nie Kong's spiritual aperture—the spiritual essence orifices within his body—spun wildly, and the primal force of nature instantly radiated from the flame seed in his palm.

"Whoosh!"

A white flame clung to the side of the cauldron, enveloping it like a silken cocoon.

"White?"

Seeing that the flame emerging from the flame imprint on Nie Kong's palm was dazzling white, Kui Yin, Lei He, and Ming Tai were all stunned. They had witnessed many variant spiritual powers infused with fire spirit energy elements but had never seen a flame this white, almost transparent.

"This is..."

You Li cried out abruptly, springing up from her seat, her eyes fixed intently on the white flame opposite her.

Kui Yin and the others were even more astonished. They had never seen You Li lose her composure like this since ascending to Medicine King status, and they couldn't help but whisper, "Great Sect Master?"

"It's nothing!"

You Li regained her composure, waving her hand to signal them to relax, and sat back down on the cushion. However, a trace of undetectable shock flickered in her eyes, and her chest surged with turbulent emotion, making it difficult to calm down.

The white flame Nie Kong was using actually made her sense a hint of the aura of the "Chaos Heavenly Fire"!

The so-called "Chaos Heavenly Fire" was the most miraculous flame in the world.

Legend had it that mastering such a flame allowed one to refine tenth-grade spiritual medicines suitable for the Spirit Gods to consume.

Decades ago, when You Li went to claim her eighth-grade Medicine Master certification, she had entered the medicine platform deep within the Spirit God Hall and sensed an extremely subtle trace of the "Chaos Heavenly Fire" there.

That speck of "Chaos Heavenly Fire" was stored within an artifact of the Illusionary Spirit Continent. Yet, Nie Kong's "Chaos Heavenly Fire" was completely integrated with his spiritual power.

Did he cultivate it himself?

You Li's mind raced, and after a moment, she finally shook off the shock. Her gaze refocused on Nie Kong's right palm. Looking again, she was greatly startled. If her senses were correct, Nie Kong had only performed four increases in his fire power, yet the intensity of his flame already matched the level she achieved after six increases.

Such ferocious fire power, yet it emitted not the slightest trace of heat.

Especially since, after outputting such power, Nie Kong showed no sign of fatigue, still wearing a slight smile, appearing perfectly at ease.

Had his control over fire power reached such a miraculous level?