The following morning, in the Pure Heart Hall, five or six li from the Medicine Pagoda, figures appeared one after another: Murong Zhonglou and You Li, both Eighth Grade Medicine Kings; Tai Lanxiang and Ren Ruyi, Seventh Grade Spirit Apothecaries; and the siblings Tai Hong and Tai Ji, along with the little loli Ling Yanluo who followed Ling Xiao.

Cushions had long been prepared in the hall, and upon entering, everyone casually sat cross-legged.

Seconds ticked by. The Supreme Elder of the Heaven and Earth Sect, Hua Zhan, was the last to enter the Pure Heart Hall. A gathering of Seventh Grade Spirit Apothecaries and Eighth Grade Medicine Kings, normally a rare sight, had all been defeated by a young man in his early twenties and now assembled here; the mood of everyone present was quite complex.

You Li surveyed the room, unable to help but laugh, "Excluding those from the Spirit God Palace and the Mara Holy Mountain, nearly all the Spirit Apothecaries of the Seventh Grade and above from the Sky Spirit Continent have been invited by him."

"Indeed. This Nie Kong is a disciple of Spirit Control City. I wonder who is more skilled, him or the City Lord of Spirit Control, Meng Feiyang?"

"Having been defeated by him, this old man is truly convinced. Even giving my all, I could only refine ten portions of 'Sea Heart Divine Dew' simultaneously, yet he effortlessly managed sixteen on his first attempt."

"..."

Once You Li spoke, the Pure Heart Hall immediately became lively. Hua Zhan, Ling Xiao, and others chimed in one after another.

A moment later, a white-robed elder with a completely bald, barren scalp suddenly looked toward Murong Zhonglou beside him, with some curiosity, "Brother Zhonglou, your Murong family has a good relationship with the Nie family. Excluding Mu Wanqing from Yin Ruins, you were the first one Nie Kong challenged. Do you know his purpose in inviting us here?"

This bald elder was the Sect Master of the Profound Sun Unification Sect, True Man Yue.

When Nie Kong first approached him, Yue Zhenren had presented thirty-three types of highly poisonous herbs he had already prepared. The challenge for the spar was simple: ingest the poisonous herb, detoxify oneself, then ingest another, detoxify again... The victor would be determined by the number of toxic herbs consumed within half an hour.

The result was that Nie Kong quickly finished all thirty-three herbs, while Yue Zhenren had only reached the sixth one at that point. Thus, the spar, limited to half an hour, ended in just a few minutes. Even if Yue Zhenren was incredibly reluctant, he had no choice but to bow his head in defeat before Nie Kong.

However, he could never quite grasp Nie Kong's objective.

The other Seventh Grade Spirit Apothecaries and Eighth Grade Medicine Kings shared the same confusion. As Yue Zhenren's voice fell, most of the surrounding gazes turned toward Murong Zhonglou.

"Everyone, no need to rush."

Murong Zhonglou smiled faintly, "Nie Kong had someone notify us last night to gather here this morning. I presume his intention will be revealed soon enough; we just need to wait a little longer." Murong Zhonglou had already been aware of Nie Kong's plan back in Luo City, but he still waited for Nie Kong to personally unveil the mystery.

Seeing Murong Zhonglou say this, the others could only continue to wait.

"My apologies for keeping all you esteemed seniors waiting for so long."

Just then, a clear, bright laugh rang out. Everyone instinctively turned toward the sound and saw Nie Kong stride in wearing a black robe, a smile gracing his face.

Accompanying Nie Kong were several figures. Among them were a few they recognized: Mu Wanqing, the Medicine King of Yin Ruins who had been frequently seen in the Spirit Mansion these past few days; Gu Changgong, the Hall Master of the Medicine Heart Hall in Spirit Control City; and Yuan Xunyu, the Great Elder of the Ink Snow Sect.

Besides the three Spirit Apothecaries—Mu Wanqing and the others—the Medicine Spirit Qing Yue and the Pill Spirit Gourd floating beside Nie Kong were also occasionally spotted during these days. Though their exact identities were unknown, they were relatively familiar.

But the most eye-catching person was the woman in red walking closest to Nie Kong. Her features were exquisite, her beauty unparalleled, especially her eyes, which were so clear they contained not a trace of impurity. While the world held many beauties, some women easily stirred desire, but this woman radiated an aura of inviolability—as if harboring even a fleeting improper thought toward her would be a filthy and unforgivable sin.

"Is she that Flower Spirit who brought such disgrace to the Spirit God Palace?"

Almost simultaneously, everyone recalled the widespread news across the Sky Spirit Continent, and a sudden thought flashed through their minds, stirring countless emotions.

This Nie Kong truly was a monster rarely seen in ten thousand years. Not only could he gain the allegiance of a Medicine Spirit and a Pill Spirit, but he was also accompanied by such a powerful Flower Spirit. This Flower Spirit’s strength was probably comparable to the legendary Peerless Jade Butterfly Chun of yesteryear. No one knew where he had found her.

As their thoughts raced, Nie Kong and his party had already walked into the crowd, exchanging greetings. Gu Changgong and Yuan Xunyu also spotted many familiar friends and began conversing warmly. In an instant, the Pure Heart Hall became even more boisterous, filled with rising and falling laughter and chatter.

After a long while, everyone settled back onto their cushions. Nie Kong smiled, "Esteemed seniors, have you been well during your stay in my humble Spirit Mansion these past few days?"

"Nie Kong, to be honest, when this old man first arrived at this Spirit Mansion, I was unwilling. But after Miss Wanqing guided me through the eight layers of the Medicine Garden within the Medicine Pagoda, my heart settled completely. I never expected that garden to hold so many medicinal herbs long extinct on the Sky Spirit Continent; it truly broadened my horizons," lamented the Seventh Grade Spirit Apothecary Ren Ruyi of the Ren family in Guanxi City of the Shatu Empire, an elder in blue robes with a long white beard flowing.

"We've been very well. It's just a pity that so many precious herbs can only be viewed and not used for research; it makes my heart itch terribly. Nie Kong, if you could gift me a few herbs, I would be even better off," Ling Xiao stroked his long beard and teased Nie Kong with a smile.

"Yes, I have been searching for the 'Kunluo Golden Crown Flower' for years, only to see it unexpectedly on the eighth layer of the Medicine Pagoda."

"Exactly, exactly! Even the 'Ghost Thorn Coral' is in the seventh layer garden."

"..."

Listening to their voices, a smile spread across Nie Kong’s face. He had already instructed Mu Wanqing and Qing Yue that the first thing any Seventh Grade Spirit Apothecary or Eighth Grade Medicine King must do upon entering the Spirit Mansion was to tour the medicinal gardens; this was done specifically to put their minds at ease.

Given the formidable deterrent shown earlier by the Yin Ruins Wood Ancestor, coupled with the unique environment of the Spirit Mansion, Nie Kong had no reason to worry about inciting their greed. In this place, even if they wanted to rob herbs, they would be powerless to act because they couldn't find an exit.

Anyone who could cultivate to their level must be sharp as a tack; none would recklessly attempt to seize herbs without understanding the situation, nor would anyone offend Spirit Control City, offend Yin Ruins—especially the unfathomable Wood Ancestor within Yin Ruins—for a few meager herbs.

When their discussions subsided, Nie Kong smiled, "Seniors, please do not be anxious. When it is time for you to depart, there will certainly be gifts satisfactory to all of you."

"Nie Kong, forget about gifts. This old man did not come to your Spirit Mansion to covet any presents. Didn't you say you needed our help with something? Then stop dawdling and say it quickly! Once this matter is done, this old man still needs to rush back to my mountain for secluded cultivation," a firm voice suddenly cut in.

…… ……RO