With the clear ring, the cauldron lid lifted, and a thick, rich medicinal fragrance diffused outwards. Ling Xiao eagerly peered down, only to discover that the interior of the medicinal cauldron was partitioned into sixteen compartments by three rows of three lines of verdant aura, with a single portion of "Sea Heart Divine Dew" medicinal liquid in each.

"Incredible..."

Ling Xiao was utterly stunned.

He had expected Nie Kong to use fierce heat to forcibly merge the sixteen ingredients for refinement, and then divide the resulting mixture into sixteen portions of "Sea Heart Divine Dew." He never imagined Nie Kong would refine each ingredient in its own separate compartment. He was certain that before the cauldron lid closed, the cauldron itself had not been partitioned.

If that was the case, how had this situation come to be?

This was, naturally, due to the little one's innate medicinal power. The little one deserved immense credit for Nie Kong's ability to refine sixteen portions of "Sea Heart Divine Dew" this way, but one refinement session depleted a significant amount of Nie Kong's primal energy, and also consumed a great deal of the little one's natal medicinal power.

Nie Kong had no intention of explaining the underlying reason to Ling Xiao. Seeing his stunned expression, Nie Kong couldn't help but chuckle, "Sect Master Ling, how are these sixteen portions of Sweet Sea Heart Divine Dew?"

"Excellently done!"

Ling Xiao snapped back to reality, letting out a long sigh. "The fusion rates are all above ninety percent, with four portions even exceeding ninety-five percent. Not only do you surpass me significantly in quantity, but the medicinal fusion degree far exceeds mine... I never thought that although I am several times your age, my alchemy skills are far inferior to yours."

"So amazing..."

The little loli quietly crept to Ling Xiao's side, looking at the medicinal cauldron, then at Nie Kong, her large, bright eyes shimmering with admiration. Then, remembering that Nie Kong had even defeated her grandfather, her face immediately soured, and she glared fiercely at Nie Kong, puffing out her cheeks.

Nie Kong couldn't help but be amused by Ling Yanluo's expression. Seeing Ling Xiao looking somewhat dejected, he smiled, "Sect Master Ling, there is no need for self-deprecation. There was an element of luck in my victory over you. If I had to refine them exactly as I did just now, even I couldn't guarantee success."

"I feel the same. Refining eight portions of Sweet Sea Heart Divine Dew simultaneously is manageable, but refining ten required me to use every ounce of strength I possessed," Ling Xiao admitted.

As he finished, Ling Xiao burst into hearty laughter, his mood greatly lightening. "Nie Kong, bring out your scroll. In my estimation, none of the other Medicine Kings will be your match. Before long, you will be the foremost Medicine King on the Heaven Spirit Continent, and perhaps, as You Li mentioned, even become the sole Medicine God in the entire history of the continent. To be defeated by a Medicine God is, perhaps, an honor for me."

"Medicine God?"

Handing over the spirit-patterned paper, Nie Kong appeared slightly surprised.

He hadn't expected the Great Sect Master of the Immortal Hunting Sect to hold him in such high regard. However, if he fully realized his plans, Nie Kong felt he would indeed deserve the title of Medicine God.

"Mu Wanqing, Mu Zhonglou, You Li, Tai Lanxiang, Ren Ruyi, Shuang Xing... along with myself, Ling Xiao—Nie Kong, you have managed to net nearly half of the Seventh-Grade Spirit Alchemists and Eighth-Grade Medicine Kings on the Heaven Spirit Continent in one sweep," Ling Xiao said with a broad, emotional smile as he opened the scroll and reviewed the recorded results.

"Nine people!"

The little loli exclaimed loudly, her puffed-out cheeks deflating without her realizing it. When her gaze shifted from the spirit-patterned paper to Nie Kong, her large eyes were now filled with reverence.

Ling Xiao quickly rolled up the spirit-patterned paper and returned it to Nie Kong.

Nie Kong smiled faintly, "Sect Master Ling holds two 'Sweet Return Spirit Jade Tablets' for you... these lead directly to my Spirit Abode. Sect Master Ling, you might as well bring this girl along in a few days; I happen to need an apprentice."

"Brother Nie Kong, you're going to take me as your apprentice? That's wonderful!" The little loli cheered with delight, but then realized that since her grandfather had just been defeated by him, she shouldn't be so happy, and her little mouth puckered again. Yet, the smile in her eyes could not be concealed.

"Lou Kong, thank you very much."

Ling Xiao was overjoyed. Before the sparring match, the little girl had mentioned wanting to become Nie Kong's disciple, a notion he hadn't taken seriously. He never expected Nie Kong to actually have such an intention. Although Nie Kong was young and only possessed Cave Spirit cultivation, his actual strength had reached the High Grade of the Heaven Spirit Realm. Given time, he might even achieve Spirit God status. Furthermore, his alchemy skills were unprecedented—shaking both ancient and modern times. For his granddaughter to be able to apprentice under him was an opportunity others couldn't even beg for; how could he possibly refuse?

After a while, Ling Xiao's excitement settled, though a trace of doubt lingered. He couldn't help but ask half-jokingly, "Nie Kong, why did you invite so many Spirit Alchemists with Heaven Spirit strength to your Spirit Abode? Aren't you afraid they'll strip all the precious medicinal herbs from your abode bare?"

"Of course not," Nie Kong replied with a smile. "As for what I plan to do, Sect Master Ling will know soon enough." Before leaving, he had completely sealed his Spirit Abode—only allowing entry, no exit.

Furthermore, Qing Yue, Mu Wanqing, Mu Zhonglou, and others Nie Kong trusted were already in the Spirit Abode. Mu Xueyi, Mu Jinzhu, and others also carried a "Return Spirit Jade Tablet." Should any of those invited Spirit Alchemists harbor ill intentions, his trusted group could enter the Spirit Abode instantly and wipe them out.

Nie Kong naturally would not share these precautions with Ling Xiao, and Ling Xiao also refrained from prying further. A few minutes later, Nie Kong took his leave.

Watching Nie Kong's figure fade into the distance, Ling Xiao stroked his beard and chuckled, "Lost a bit of face, but gained a master for my granddaughter. A bad thing turned into a good one."

"Grandpa, you also think it's a good thing for Brother Nie Kong to take me as an apprentice?" the little loli asked happily.

"It is certainly a good thing."

"But Brother Nie Kong defeated you, aren't you angry?"

"Angry? Why should I be angry? Have I not lost enough times in my life? What does one more loss matter? Haha..."

"..."

Taking Ling Yanluo as an apprentice was not merely a momentary whim for Nie Kong.

When she first appeared, Nie Kong had discreetly probed her, discovering something truly miraculous. Although the little girl's cultivation was low, her physique was remarkably translucent, and she practiced a mutated ability—fire spiritual power infused with wood spiritual energy!

This was the first time Nie Kong had ever encountered such a phenomenon.

Almost instantly, Nie Kong felt the urge to take her as a disciple. Ling Xiao might not have realized it yet, but Nie Kong, being a Wood Spirit Master, understood exactly what astonishing effects such mutated fire spiritual power would have when used in alchemy. Surpassing her grandfather, Ling Xiao, or even the Great Sect Master You Li, would undoubtedly be achievable for Ling Yanluo, barring any accidents. To let such a talent slip away would be too great a waste.

Coupled with the little girl's willingness and Ling Xiao's approval, the matter was settled instantly. After leaving Sea Heart Island, Nie Kong sat cross-legged on the back of the Ghost Soul Eagle King, feeling quite pleased. On this trip to Sea Heart Island, defeating Ling Xiao was secondary; gaining an outstanding little loli as a potential apprentice turned out to be the most significant harvest.

The Ghost Soul Eagle King's speed was unparalleled. Before long, it traversed the ocean and returned to the borders of the North Sea Kingdom, then swiftly headed west...