"Nie Kong, you intend to stop me?" Tan Zhong let out a cold laugh, his eyes meeting Nie Kong's gaze without reservation. Despite the massive forces behind Nie Kong, such as Yin Xu and Ling Yu City, in this situation, he refused to believe Nie Kong would truly dare to detain him; otherwise, most of the powerful figures in this hall would likely become Nie Kong's enemies.

"Senior Tan Zhong, you misunderstand." Nie Kong smiled serenely. "If you truly wish to leave, I will escort you out immediately. However, before you depart, I suggest you stay and observe for a while longer, lest you regret it later."

Nie Kong knew exactly what Tan Zhong was plotting—nothing more than inciting others to oppose him. The moment Tan Zhong started to rise, the eyes of many Alchemists in the Qing Xin Hall flickered, clearly eager to take their leave as well. But how could Nie Kong allow them that satisfaction?

Tan Zhong’s face darkened. He snapped, "Nie Kong, are you threatening this old man?"

"Senior Tan Zhong, this must be the 'Purple Stamen Longevity Pill' from your Changchun Mountain?" Nie Kong asked without answering, a purple flash igniting in his hand as a flower-stamen-shaped pill, about the thickness of a little finger, appeared.

"Indeed." Tan Zhong narrowed his eyes.

He had questioned Nie Kong so fiercely hoping to draw him into a confrontation and stir up a sense of shared grievance among the surrounding Alchemists. But Nie Kong's reaction was entirely unexpected. Why was he producing the 'Purple Stamen Longevity Pill' now? This was a unique Rank Seven spirit medicine from Changchun Mountain, capable of boosting an Elixir Spirit Master's cultivation. By selling this spirit medicine, Changchun Mountain had accumulated vast wealth over a thousand years.

Nie Kong smiled. "It's good that you're focused on the Purple Stamen Longevity Pill." With that, he popped the spirit medicine into his mouth and swallowed it in one gulp.

"Hmph!"

While Nie Kong and Tan Zhong were locked in opposition, everyone else watched the situation unfold. But upon seeing Nie Kong's action, not only were You Li, Ling Xiao, and the others stunned, but even Mu Zhonglou, who usually had a plan ready for Nie Kong, paused in surprise. Why was he taking the 'Purple Stamen Longevity Pill' for no apparent reason?

After a moment of chewing, Nie Kong fell silent, closing his eyes.

The crowd exchanged wary glances. Seconds bled into minutes, and the Qing Xin Hall descended into an absolute silence, so quiet a falling needle could be heard.

"Nie Kong, you're trying to play some mysterious game to..." After two or three minutes, Tan Zhong could no longer contain himself and roared, his command echoing through the hall. However, before he could finish his sentence, Nie Kong merely raised his right hand and waved dismissively, causing Tan Zhong to instinctively swallow the rest of his words.

"Senior Tan Zhong, please remain calm." Nie Kong opened his eyes with a slight smile, then turned to Tai Yan, who was seated beside him, and instructed, "Tai Yan, take notes."

"Mm." Tai Yan nodded obediently and, as if by magic, produced paper and pen he had clearly prepared earlier.

Seeing Nie Kong and Tai Yan acting in such a manner, the onlookers grew even more bewildered about Nie Kong’s true intentions. Just then, Nie Kong spoke: "Purple Auspicious Fragrant Fungus."

"Purple Auspicious Fragrant Fungus? Isn't that one of the primary ingredients for the Purple Stamen Longevity Pill?" Tan Zhong frowned slightly.

"Arrowhead Butterfly Whisker." Nie Kong continued.

"..." Tan Zhong's heart gave a sharp lurch. The 'Arrowhead Butterfly Whisker' Nie Kong mentioned was the second primary ingredient for the 'Purple Stamen Longevity Pill.'

"Star-Adorning White."

"Screw-Wing Grass."

In the space of a few breaths, two more herb names left Nie Kong's mouth.

Up to this point, the four herbs Nie Kong had named were all indispensable for refining the 'Purple Stamen Longevity Pill.' Tan Zhong’s face grew exceedingly grim, a faint premonition of disaster stirring in his heart.

You Li, True Master Yue, Hua Yi, and the others noticed the shift in Tan Zhong’s expression and suddenly grasped the situation: Nie Kong had consumed the 'Purple Stamen Longevity Pill' to discern its required ingredients, and he had achieved a breakthrough in such a short time. Judging by Tan Zhong’s reaction, those four herbs must have been correct.

A wave of shock momentarily washed over everyone's eyes.

"Water Mass Mustard Flower."

"Long-Pillar Flowing Tail."

"Blue Flame Bellflower."

"..."

Herb name after herb name flowed from Nie Kong. Tan Zhong's complexion grew darker and uglier. Fifteen herbs were required to refine the 'Purple Stamen Longevity Pill,' and Nie Kong had already named twelve, all without a single error, as if he were reading directly from the formula.

"Nie Kong, shut up!" Tan Zhong could no longer restrain himself and roared in fury.

"Northern Profound Spider Grass."

"Black Lantern."

"White-Backed Flying Lotus."

Nie Kong paid him no mind, listing the final three herbs before looking towards Tai Yan.

Sensing Nie Kong's gaze, Tai Yan paused his writing... then straightened up with a wide grin, handing the paper to Nie Kong. "Brother, I've finished writing."

Nie Kong nodded, taking the paper and glancing over it. "Purple Auspicious Fragrant Fungus, Arrowhead Butterfly Whisker, Star-Adorning White, Screw-Wing Grass, Water Mass Mustard Flower... Northern Profound Spider Grass, Black Lantern, White-Backed Flying Lotus... Hmph, Senior Tan Zhong, are the fifteen drugs required to refine the 'Purple Stamen Longevity Pill' as I have listed them?"

As he finished speaking, Nie Kong’s gaze lifted from the paper to Tan Zhong, a mocking, half-smile playing on his lips.

Tan Zhong's expression turned ferocious, his eyes seeming to bulge from their sockets. "Nie Kong, when did you steal the formula for the Purple Stamen Longevity Pill?"

His words were tantamount to admitting the formula's accuracy.

The last vestiges of hope in the crowd shattered. They instinctively exchanged looks with the surrounding Alchemists, but saw nothing but unconcealed astonishment in their peers' eyes. Was this Nie Kong even human? To identify all the necessary components for a Rank Seven spirit medicine like the 'Purple Stamen Longevity Pill' in such a short time—could it truly be that Nie Kong had sneaked into Changchun Mountain and stolen the formula, as Tan Zhong suggested?

In contrast, the siblings Tai Hong and Tai Ji were elated. They hadn't expected that Nie Kong's alchemy skills would reach such heights since their parting at Ling Yu City. They had always heard tales of Nie Kong defeating one Medicine King after another, but hearing it was nothing compared to witnessing his power firsthand.

As for the little loli Ling Yanluo, the look of worship in her eyes for Nie Kong deepened.

"Steal?" Nie Kong's expression suddenly turned icy. He spoke in a chilling tone, "Tan Zhong, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. I respectfully call you 'Senior,' and you are indeed a senior. Otherwise, in front of me, you are nothing! In the art of detoxification, I can keep you permanently subdued. In all other aspects, I can similarly crush you beneath my heel."

"You, you... Arrogant! Utterly arrogant!" Tan Zhong, the majestic Rank Eight Medicine King and Master of Changchun Mountain, being so utterly disdained by Nie Kong, was so enraged that smoke seemed to escape his seven orifices. His whole body trembled as a fierce, tyrannical, blazing aura surged out from within him, instantly making the entire hall feel scorching hot.

"What? Still wish to spar with this junior?" Nie Kong sneered.

"You..." Tan Zhong took a deep, ragged breath, glaring fiercely at Nie Kong through gritted teeth. "Nie Kong, didn't you just claim you didn't steal the 'Purple Stamen Longevity Pill' formula? If you have the guts, taste another one of my spirit medicines. I want to see if you can still deduce all of its components!"