In the exquisitely transparent, triangular ice cavern, Nie Kong followed closely behind Gu Changgong, the sound of their echoing footsteps resonating ceaselessly. Previously, Nie Kong could barely withstand the biting cold here, only managing to enter the cave and see Meng Feiyang under Gu Changgong's protection. But today, that chill could no longer penetrate Nie Kong’s body.

After tens of meters, the cold pool deep within the ice cavern finally came into Nie Kong’s view.

That enormous ice tree still stood rooted on the west side of the cold pool. Inside the crystal-clear ice tree, Meng Feiyang’s figure, seated cross-legged, was faintly visible.

Seemingly utterly unaware of the arrival of Nie Kong and Gu Changgong, Meng Feiyang remained with his eyes shut, completely still.

Gu Changgong sighed lightly, with a hint of helplessness in his voice, "Compared to when you were last here, the City Lord's condition has deteriorated significantly."

Nie Kong nodded slightly; he had sensed the situation Gu Changgong described the moment he entered.

"Changgong, Nie Kong, you have arrived."

After several minutes, Meng Feiyang finally opened his eyes, a weary smile touching his face. The eyes that shone like brilliant stars a few years ago had grown much dimmer.

"Greetings, City Lord," Nie Kong quickly bowed.

"Nie Kong, no need for such ceremony. You have done exceptionally well these past years," Meng Feiyang praised. "To break through from Spirit Manifestation to Cave Spirit in such a short time—such swift cultivation speed is truly rare. Gu Changgong tells me that not only did you obtain a Spirit Mansion left over from the Illusionary Spirit Era, but you are also currently challenging the continent's Seventh-Grade Alchemists and Medicine Kings?"

Nie Kong affirmed, "City Lord, my challenge plan concluded five days ago. I have just returned to Lingyu City from the Heaven and Earth Sect today."

Gu Changgong laughed heartily, "City Lord, you wouldn't believe it. Nie Kong's name is now known by every soul on the entire Heaven Spirit Continent. Mu Wanqing, Mu Chonglou, You Li, Tai Lanxiang... whether famous or obscure Seventh-Grade Alchemists or Eighth-Grade Medicine Kings, not one can match Nie Kong by even half a step. Five days ago, even that old fellow Hua Zhan, the Supreme Elder of the Heaven and Earth Sect, was no match for Nie Kong in alchemy preparation."

"Good! Good! Good!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Feiyang was greatly revitalized, exclaiming "Good" three times consecutively. "For thousands of years, no matter how many Medicine Kings emerged from other sects on the Heaven Spirit Continent, the First Medicine King has always belonged to our Lingyu City. Now that we have Nie Kong, even if I die in this cavern, I will not worry about Lingyu City lacking a successor!"

Gu Changgong said solemnly, "It is not the final moment yet, City Lord, please do not speak of death. Nie Kong returned to Lingyu City this time precisely to examine your ailment. This young man possesses profound mastery in treating illnesses and saving lives; perhaps he truly can conceive a method to cure you."

"City Lord, you must not lose heart," Nie Kong also said earnestly. "I will certainly exert every effort to help the City Lord escape the consumption of the 'God-Devouring Flower.' Even if today is insufficient, upon breaking through to the Heaven Spirit Realm, I will definitely succeed. At my cultivation pace, reaching Heaven Spirit will take only a year or two. Surely the City Lord can hold on for at least a year or two?"

Meng Feiyang chuckled, "Changgong, Nie Kong, you worry too much. I will not surrender to the 'God-Devouring Flower' so easily."

"That is good to hear."

Gu Changgong let out a long breath of relief. Being tormented in this environment for over twenty years had already exhausted his strength and spirit. He truly feared that Meng Feiyang might give up just like that.

"City Lord, please do not resist. I shall examine your condition immediately."

Nie Kong smiled faintly and walked closer to the ice tree.

When he stopped moving, nine golden needles materialized in his palm. With a slight weng sound, the spirit patterns on the needles' surfaces burst forth with dazzling golden light. An instant later, Nie Kong waved his right hand lightly, and the golden needles transformed into a streak of flowing light, piercing through the thick ice layer and embedding directly into the 'Sea of Heart Acupoint' on Meng Feiyang's left chest.

Immediately following, the Earth Needle pierced the 'Luminous Jade Acupoint,' and the Time Needle entered the 'Celestial Palace Acupoint'...

Only when the most slender Heaven Needle pierced the 'Jade Pond Acupoint' did Nie Kong draw a slight breath. The nine golden needles had successfully inserted into Meng Feiyang’s body, but because the ice layer was too thick, Nie Kong's fingers could not possibly touch the needle shafts. Fortunately, as the Heaven Needle entered its acupoint, Nie Kong had already channeled a wisp of Origin Power into the perforation within the ice layer, linking it to the needle shaft.

With a thought, the natural Origin Power subtly fluctuated within the meridians, mirroring the tremor of the acupoints. Soon, this oscillation transferred along the Origin Power to the golden needles, and then through the needles into the 'Jade Pond Acupoint,' stirring within Meng Feiyang’s body and causing the other eight golden needles to tremble in response.

"Buzz!"

The nine golden needles resonated harmoniously, and the humming sound suddenly intensified fiercely.

Nie Kong's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind rapidly calming. The condition within Meng Feiyang's body gradually materialized in Nie Kong's mind. Not long after, Nie Kong discovered that Meng Feiyang’s soul power was seeping out of his cranial area thread by thread, haltingly spreading towards his chest area.

Nie Kong remembered with perfect clarity that on Meng Feiyang’s chest, there was a dark blue mark left by the 'God-Devouring Flower'—it was the flower's Mental Imprint.

Judging by the movement of the soul power, Meng Feiyang’s Ninth-Grade Heaven Spirit strength and the environment of this ice cavern played a significant role. Otherwise, that soul power would not have been so sluggish, but would have rushed into the 'God-Devouring Flower's' Mental Imprint like a tide, only to be completely devoured.

The fluctuations emitted by the tips of the golden needles, as if tangible, swept across the 'God-Devouring Flower' imprint on Meng Feiyang's chest in circles.

"Hmm?"

Nie Kong frowned deeply, letting out a small, surprised sound.

Although the dark blue imprint existed on Meng Feiyang's chest, in Nie Kong's perception, it felt like an emptiness. As the fluctuations of the nine golden needles surged past, they encountered no resistance whatsoever.

Changing his line of thought, Nie Kong commanded the little fellow, sending a trace of greenness along the Origin Power into Meng Feiyang’s body, then meticulously investigating the dark blue imprint on his chest. Several seconds later, the results of the little fellow's investigation were fed back into Nie Kong's mind. The situation was exactly the same as what he had sensed.

"Could this Mental Imprint be fake?"

Nie Kong was greatly puzzled, his mind racing. After a long pause, Nie Kong somehow recalled the towering, sky-obscuring figure of the Wood Ancestor. Instantly, a flash of lightning seemed to strike within Nie Kong's mind, and a notion suddenly surfaced: "This imprint might just be a projection?"

"If the imprint is a projection, and the God-Devouring Flower is the source, for the projection to manifest in Meng Feiyang's body, there must be a transit point." In a moment, Nie Kong's thoughts became clear. A strand of spiritual (thought/intent) followed the Origin Power into Meng Feiyang’s body, then began spreading towards his brain.

Seemingly sensing Nie Kong's intention, Meng Feiyang offered no resistance.

Thus, Nie Kong’s spiritual entered the depths of Meng Feiyang’s soul without obstruction. Having been tormented by the 'God-Devouring Flower' for over twenty years, Meng Feiyang’s soul was already very weak. However, although his soul appeared on the verge of collapse at any moment, it remained firmly rooted in the depths of his cranial area.

Yet, surrounding his soul, faint blue wisps of energy constantly circled and lingered.

... ……RO

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