A moment later, Nie Kong tucked the scroll, now bearing You Li's signature and mental imprint, into his robes, and then produced a "Spirit Returning Jade Tablet." It floated like a wisp of downy willow fluff toward You Li. Nie Kong smiled, "Infuse your spiritual energy into this tablet, and you can arrive at the Spirit Mansion instantly. The Grand Sect Master may depart now, or wait a month before going. Someone will receive you upon entry. I trust you will never regret this journey to the Spirit Mansion in the days to come."

"Is that so?"

The matter was settled; overthinking served no purpose. You Li had regained her composure. "Nie Kong, after you leave the Immortal Hunting Sect, you plan to seek out other Medicine Kings for sparring, I presume?"

Nie Kong made no attempt to conceal it, nodding with a smile. "Indeed. Grand Sect Master, and the three other Sect Masters, I apologize for any offense caused today. I hope you will overlook it. I shall take my leave now."

As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face. You Li's defeat was a foregone conclusion. Even if Kui Yin, Lei He, and Ming Tai, these three Heavenly Spirit experts, were furious with Nie Kong, they could only offer polite nods now.

"Wait."

Just as Nie Kong was about to step across the threshold of the grand hall, You Li, who had already risen to her feet, could not help but speak. "Nie Kong, may I ask you one more question?"

Nie Kong turned back, smiling. "Please do, Grand Sect Master."

"How did you acquire your 'Chaos Heavenly Fire'?" You Li had suppressed this question in her heart for a long time; without clarification, she knew she would be restless.

"Chaos Heavenly Fire?" Nie Kong paused, momentarily stunned.

"You don't know?"

You Li found it utterly unbelievable. This Nie Kong possessed the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire' yet was unaware of it?

Seeing Nie Kong's utter bewilderment, You Li couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle. "The 'Chaos Heavenly Fire' surpasses even peak fire spiritual energy like the 'Blazing Spirit Fire.' For us Spirit Alchemists, it can be called the 'Divine Fire.' Just now, I sensed the aura of the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire' within your firepower."

Hearing this, Nie Kong felt a surge of surprise.

Ever since his spiritual power transformed from the Essence of Spiritual Treasures into a natural, primordial force, the fire spiritual energy elements contained within it had indeed changed. Especially the intensity of his firepower, which, amplified by the fire seed, was countless times more ferocious than before. Yet, he never expected this fire spiritual energy to be termed 'Chaos Heavenly Fire'?

After a moment’s thought, Nie Kong couldn't help but smile. "Grand Sect Master, to be frank, I was originally a Wood Spirit Master. After integrating fire spiritual energy elements into my power, I cultivated step by step to this point. My Wood Spirit Power has undergone several transformations, and the Fire Spiritual Energy elements have likewise kept evolving, leading to the current intensity of my firepower."

"So that is how it is."

Her guess confirmed, You Li nodded in sudden realization. "Nie Kong, your current firepower only possesses the aura of the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire'; it is not yet the true 'Chaos Heavenly Fire.' However, given your innate talent, your firepower will eventually transform completely into the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire.' At that time, your alchemy skills will surely surpass every Medicine King on the Heavenly Spirit Continent."

"Thank you for your auspicious words, Grand Sect Master!"

"..."

Not much later, a sharp cry echoed from high above. A massive black eagle appeared in a lightning flash over the Immortal Hunting Sect. Nie Kong shot upward, his feet landing lightly on the back of the swooping eagle. In the span of a mere breath, the figures of man and eagle vanished into the horizon.

At the hall entrance, You Li gazed at the spot where Nie Kong disappeared. After a long silence, she sighed softly. "Given time, the name Nie Kong will surely rise above all Medicine Kings, past and present, on the Heavenly Spirit Continent, becoming a Medicine God. To be defeated by such a person is not unjust."

"Medicine God?"

Kui Yin knew You Li spoke the truth, but the memory of Nie Kong's arrogant demeanor immediately sparked his anger. He growled, "The Grand Sect Master is praising him too highly! Nie Kong is so arrogant, daring to challenge all the Medicine Kings of the Heavenly Spirit Continent. Just you wait; he will certainly meet a bloody end."

You Li smiled faintly. "Whether he is praised too highly will be known in the future."

Ming Tai looked slightly puzzled. "It seems Nie Kong intends to invite all the Medicine Kings to his Spirit Mansion, and regardless of victory or defeat, he offers such precious spirit herbs. I wonder what his true intention is?"

"We will know when the time comes," You Li said, glancing at the 'Spirit Returning Jade Tablet' in her hand. She grew serious. "Uncle-Master Kui Yin, Uncle-Master Lei He, Junior Brother Ming Tai, I will depart for Nie Kong's Spirit Mansion tomorrow. After I leave, the major and minor affairs of the Immortal Hunting Sect will be handled according to your discussions."

"Understood."

"..."

High above the clouds, the Ghost Soul Eagle King sped toward the northern reaches of the Immortal Hunting Mountain Range. Nie Kong sat cross-legged on the eagle’s back, quietly perusing the information left by Mu Chonglou on the paper.

You Li and the others had slightly miscalculated. Nie Kong did not intend to challenge all the Medicine Kings on the Heavenly Spirit Continent; at least, he held no interest in engaging the two Medicine Kings of the Spirit God Hall. Excluding those two, plus Mu Chonglou and You Li, only five Medicine Kings remained.

From these five, one must subtract Meng Feiyang, who had been trapped in the ice cave in Spirit Control City for years, leaving only four.

Four Medicine Kings, plus the dozen or so Seventh-Grade Spirit Alchemists recorded on the paper, constituted Nie Kong’s next targets. Among those Seventh-Grade Spirit Alchemists, there were several Nie Kong had never heard of; if Mu Chonglou hadn't listed them, Nie Kong might never have known of their existence.

"Next stop, the Capital of the Shatu Kingdom: Bawang City!"

...

Bawang City. The city lived up to its name; any person arriving at this imperial city for the first time would feel the same way.

The wide, thick city walls, the grand and magnificent architecture, and especially the one-hundred-meter-tall 'Heavenly Emperor Tower' standing within the Imperial Palace—towering, piercing the heavens, its surface intricately carved with spiritual patterns that ceaselessly radiated a brilliant, dazzling golden light—were enough to shock the soul.

Thanks to the existence of the Heavenly Emperor Tower, Bawang City enjoyed weather that was perpetually warm, like spring, almost all year round. When Nie Kong first arrived in Bawang City during the twilight of the second day, he too was momentarily stunned by the massive metropolis, particularly the glittering, golden Heavenly Emperor Tower at its heart.

Night descended, and the city lights began to glow, illuminating the streets with neon brilliance.

Nie Kong strolled forward. Everything he saw was vastly different from Luo City. The most obvious difference was that the eyes of the local residents all possessed a slight tinge of blue, and the attire of the city’s women was significantly more revealing than that in the Great Success Empire. Many wore low-cut, tightly fitting gowns that cinched their busts, revealing a deep and alluring cleavage; some women’s clothing only covered their chests and hips, leaving their waists and legs completely exposed.

Naturally, those who dared wear such revealing clothes were almost all slender and tall. Walking on such streets was, for the most part, quite pleasing to the eye.

Continuing this observation, Nie Kong drew closer to the center of the imperial city, and gradually, the palace with its vermilion walls and red tiles became clearer in his view.

"Giddy up—"

Suddenly, a wide and luxurious carriage appeared on the avenue to his side. It was pulled not by horses, but by four Black-Hoofed Wind-Chasing Beasts—majestic, powerful, and tall. Driven forward, the four Second-Grade spirit beasts ran with blurring speed, their sixteen hooves striking the ground with a thunderous boom, like rolling tempests.

Nie Kong was about to step aside when he suddenly let out a soft 'Eh,' a mischievous smile touching his lips.

The next instant, Nie Kong vanished from his spot, reappearing directly inside the carriage. Upon seeing this sudden figure, the burly young man inside the carriage was first startled, and then burst into joyous laughter, leaping up to give Nie Kong a powerful bear hug. This person was none other than the Prince of the Shatu Empire:

Tai Hong!

...

...RO