Inside the Hunter Immortal Sect, You Li was utterly astonished, her hand trembling so much that the invitation almost slipped to the ground.

Ming Tai, who had just handed the invitation to You Li, was equally shocked upon hearing this. "Great Sect Master, did the invitation say where that Ninth-Grade Spirit Medicine came from?"

You Li took a deep breath, only just managing to steady her composure.

"No."

She scanned the invitation word by word, then shook her head. "It only invites our Hunter Immortal Sect to the auction for the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus Moon' in Luocheng, Great Accomplishment Empire, scheduled for one month from now. However, the invitation did mention that the Ninth-Grade Spirit Medicine was refined less than seven days ago."

Ming Tai blurted out in disbelief, "Less than seven days? Who possesses such power? Could it be Meng Feiyang, the City Lord of Spirit Control City?"

"Even Meng Feiyang couldn't do it," You Li frowned.

"Then who else could it be?" Ming Tai exclaimed.

"No one..." You Li reflexively shook her head before murmuring, "No, perhaps that fellow has such capability."

Ming Tai was stunned. "Great Sect Master, are you referring to Nie Kong? That's impossible, wasn't it when you returned last time that Nie Kong was only at the Cavern Spirit realm?"

You Li offered a wry smile. "Before we left the Spirit Mansion, Nie Kong had already raised his cultivation from the Seventh Grade of Cavern Spirit to the Ninth Grade of Cavern Spirit through the Cavern Void Golden Elixir Moon. More than half a year has passed since then; perhaps he has already broken through to Heavenly Spirit. Theoretically, a Heavenly Spirit Master can refine Ninth-Grade Spirit Medicine."

"A Heavenly Spirit Master, a Heavenly Spirit Master under twenty-five years old—Nie Kong's cultivation speed is incredible." Ming Tai found it completely unbelievable.

"Indeed."

You Li sighed deeply.

After a long while, Ming Tai finally collected himself. "Great Sect Master, are we accepting the invitation to this auction?"

"We are going!"

You Li stated gravely. "Of course, I must go. I will personally make the trip to Luocheng! With the emergence of a Ninth-Grade Spirit Medicine, if I, an Eighth-Grade Medicine King, don't go to see it, wouldn't I regret it for the rest of my life? Oh right, Junior Brother Ming Tai, what is that you're holding? There seems to be something else inside?"

"This is the sleeve of the invitation."

Ming Tai shook the thin red cardboard casing, and a neatly folded sheet of notepaper suddenly slid out. "Huh? There really is something inside." He quickly picked it up and handed it to You Li.

"It's actually the Compendium of Materia Medica Outline—this Nie Kong actually compiled the Compendium!"

You Li opened it, and undisguised shock flooded her face, using the word "actually" twice in her speech, her tone filled with disbelief.

Reading to the end, You Li suddenly burst out laughing. "Nie Kong is truly sly; he even managed to rope me in. He actually asked me to write down some insights on alchemy for him..."

Heaven and Earth Sect, within the Heavenly Fragrance Hall.

Hua Yi set down the invitation, then flipped over the contents written on that piece of notepaper several times before finally sighing. "This Compendium Outline not only lists Ninth-Grade medicinal herbs but also Ninth-Grade medicinal formulas. It seems certain that the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus Moon' was indeed refined by Nie Kong."

"Why would he be willing to put a Ninth-Grade Spirit Medicine up for auction? What is his intention?"

The speaker was a middle-aged man with a refined and scholarly appearance; he was Luo Lan, the current Sect Master of the Heaven and Earth Sect.

"Nothing more than to build momentum for that Compendium."

Hua Yi spoke with profound emotion. "Back when we were in the Spirit Mansion, although Old Man and the others gave him all the medicinal formulas, there was a hint of ridicule in our hearts. To spend ten or even decades compiling a compendium—that person must either be a sage or a fool. But I never expected that in less than a year, the first draft of the Compendium would be complete."

Pausing slightly, Hua Yi lamented, "Especially since Nie Kong actually managed to refine a Ninth-Grade Spirit Medicine. Although the fusion degree of the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus' is only seventy-five percent, in terms of alchemy, he is now a true Medicine King. Old Man, You Li, True Master Yue, and Tan Zhong are far inferior to him."

"Mu Chonglou and Ling Xiao stayed behind in the Spirit Mansion to assist Nie Kong with alchemy; they must have gained a great deal. Looking back now, they certainly had foresight." By the end of his statement, Hua Yi's words carried a note of regret. Nie Kong had invited him and You Li to stay previously, but unfortunately, they had all refused.

"In the herb section of this outline, it lists the Ten Great Rare Treasures? Aren't there only five, like the Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring?" Luo Lan took the notepaper from Hua Yi's hand and looked at it, a trace of surprise appearing on his brow.

"Five... that was in the past."

Hua Yi smiled. "Now, within Nie Kong's Spirit Mansion, there is the Flower Spirit that repelled the Spirit God Hall; its true form is sufficient to be listed among the Ten Great Rare Treasures. There is also a Medicine Spirit named Qing Yue; its true form, the Azure Moon Illusory Orchid, can also be counted among the Ten Great Rare Treasures. As for the others, Old Man doesn't know."

"I see."

"..."

Spirit God Hall, in a serene courtyard, two elders were leisurely sipping tea.

One was thin and scholarly, with a long beard sweeping his chest, possessing an air of immortal cultivation. The other was portly, his face perpetually smiling.

They were Ye Haoran and Zhan Tianfeng, the two Medicine Kings of the Spirit God Hall.

"Elder Zhu, Elder Ye, this is an invitation sent by the Scarlet Mansion. The Great Elder asked this subordinate to deliver it to you two for review." Suddenly, a low voice sounded outside the courtyard.

"Scarlet Mansion invitation?"

Ye Haoran reached out a hand, and a streak of crimson light floated in from outside.

Zhan Tianfeng said with a broad smile, "An invitation from the Scarlet Mansion usually means they are inviting the two of us... Wait, what's wrong?" Before he finished speaking, he saw that Ye Haoran, who had just opened the invitation, had changed color drastically, even dropping the teacup in his hand, which shattered into pieces with a snap.

"See for yourself."

Ye Haoran regained his senses and handed the invitation over, his voice tinged with excitement.

Seeing this, Zhan Tianfeng became even more suspicious. He took the invitation and, after just a glance, couldn't help but exclaim, "Ninth-Grade Spirit Medicine, 'Ruyi Fire Lotus'? The Scarlet Mansion is auctioning a Ninth-Grade Spirit Medicine!"

"..."

The two exchanged glances, both finding it somewhat unbelievable.

In the Spirit God Hall, they had long treasured the formula for the Ninth-Grade Spirit Medicine, the 'Silent Spirit Tribulation-Breaking Pill.' However, this formula was not developed by any Spirit Alchemist on the Heavenly Record Continent; it originated from the 'Grand Supreme Spirit Realm,' dictated by a High God of the Spirit God Hall, yet it had never been refined.

This was because the 'Silent Spirit Tribulation-Breaking Pill' required a Medicine Spirit as its principal ingredient. How easy was it to capture a Medicine Spirit whose spirituality had greatly matured? Moreover, even if they captured the Medicine Spirit, an Eighth-Grade Medicine King lacked the ability to refine it; they would still need a High God, originally a Spirit Alchemist, to descend from the 'Grand Supreme Spirit Realm.'

Ye Haoran and Zhan Tianfeng had always believed that no one outside the Spirit God Hall could refine a Ninth-Grade Spirit Medicine. But now, the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus' that the Scarlet Mansion was auctioning in a month had apparently been refined less than seven days ago.

Such a thing could not possibly be faked.

If the Scarlet Mansion was auctioning a Spirit Medicine, they would have to display it. At that time, the auction hall would undoubtedly host many Medicine Kings capable of easily judging the approximate time of refinement.

Who refined the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus'?

The Eighth-Grade Medicine Kings of the Spirit God Hall looked on with doubt and surprise, the question flashing through their minds almost simultaneously...

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