It wasn't just sects like the Ling Shen Hall, Tian Di Sect, or Lie Xian Sect; the Moruo Sacred Mountain, Mo Xue Sect, the Sha Tu Imperial Family, and the Xi Wu Luo Clan, among others, all simultaneously received invitations from the Crimson Tower.

Subsequently, the news spread far and wide via spirit slips, and within a single day, the announcement of the birth of the Ninth-Grade Spirit Herb, the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus,' had almost swept across the entire continent.

With the deliberate propagation by interested parties, the situation regarding that pharmacopoeia spread along with the news.

For the better part of the last six months, the matter of Nie Kong—who had previously challenged Seventh-Grade Spirit Alchemists and Eighth-Grade Medicine Kings everywhere—preparing to compile a pharmacopoeia had already been a massive topic of discussion across the Tian Ling Continent. Though spiritual masters everywhere had heard whispers, they remained largely skeptical, finding the undertaking far too difficult to truly believe.

Now, the news circulating stated that the first draft of the pharmacopoeia was complete and would soon be promulgated to the world.

It was said that the pharmacopoeia was titled Ben Cao Gang Mu, divided into three volumes: Alchemy Refining, Medicinal Herbs, and Prescriptions. Nearly every herb was personally tasted and analyzed for its pharmacological principles and properties by Nie Kong himself, then compiled and recorded by Eighth-Grade Medicine Kings and Seventh-Grade Spirit Alchemists such as Mu Chonglou, Ling Xiao, and Gu Changgong.

It was rumored that the pharmacopoeia classified all medicinal herbs of the Tian Ling Continent into nine grades based on the strength of their potency, and that it included many herbs never before discovered.

It was rumored that the pharmacopoeia contained all known existing spirit medicine formulas on the continent, even including the secret medicines of sects and noble clans like the Ling Shen Hall, Moruo Sacred Mountain, and Tian Di Sect.

It was rumored...

Countless rumors sent the Tian Ling Continent into a complete uproar.

Compared to the emergence of a Ninth-Grade Spirit Herb, the news that the pharmacopoeia was about to be issued was undoubtedly more electrifying. A Ninth-Grade Spirit Herb that could elevate the cultivation of a Tian Ling Master was a distant dream for the vast majority of spiritual masters and spirit alchemists. This was twofold: first, the price of such a spirit herb would inevitably be sky-high; second, the Tian Ling Realm itself was too far removed.

But the pharmacopoeia was different; not only would it be immensely useful to spirit alchemists of any grade, but its value to spiritual masters was incalculable. If the rumors were true, by merely refining the First-Grade spirit herbs detailed within to boost cultivation, a Spirit Gathering Master could advance from Spirit Gathering First Grade to Spirit Gathering Ninth Grade entirely through spirit medicine.

This applied during the Spirit Gathering realm, and similarly for Tong Ling, Rong Ling, Hua Ling... all the way to Dong Ling. Although the spirit herbs required for cultivation advancement gradually decreased with higher realms, the number of relevant herbs and formulas had multiplied several times over compared to before.

Such a possibility was previously unimaginable.

Yet now, it was highly likely to become reality—how could the spiritual masters of the world not go mad over it?

Although some remained stubbornly disbelieving, as time wore on, the number of spiritual masters who believed grew exponentially. Nie Kong had nearly defeated all the Seventh-Grade Spirit Alchemists and Eighth-Grade Medicine Kings on the continent; completing the compilation of the pharmacopoeia in such a short time was not impossible.

In an instant, from south to north, from west to east...

Regardless of whether it was a sect or a noble clan, a secret realm, or even the street corners, everywhere on the continent the sound of discussions about the Ben Cao Gang Mu could be heard.

Unlike the focus of ordinary spiritual masters and low-grade spirit alchemists, the gazes of the Tian Ling powerhouses, Seventh-Grade Spirit Alchemists, and Eighth-Grade Medicine Kings were all fixed upon that Ninth-Grade Spirit Herb, the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus.' Tian Ling Masters were continuously arriving from all directions, converging upon the capital city of the Da Cheng Empire.

In less than seven days, the number of Tian Ling powerhouses within the vicinity of Luo City had already exceeded twenty, and this number continued to climb.

"I only hope nothing untoward occurs," Cheng Feixing, the Grand Emperor Emeritus of the Cheng Kingdom, stood by a window in the Luo City Imperial Palace, his brows furrowed with concern.

He too was a Tian Ling powerhouse and could vaguely sense the colossal auras lurking both inside and outside the city. Many of these auras were far stronger than his own. Fortunately, the Cheng royal family had the Mo Xue Sect as a backer, so those attending the auction were unlikely to cause a public disturbance in Luo City.

He cast his gaze downward, surveying the surroundings. A thousand meters to his left, a cluster of fiery red mansions stood out conspicuously.

That was the Crimson Tower, the very place that attracted so many powerful figures!

However, the Crimson Tower was merely like a wooden box; what truly drew experts from every corner was the spirit herb contained within that box. Thinking of the news he had heard about the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus' these past few days, Cheng Feixing felt a surge of emotion. He had long heard about the young man named Nie Kong from Cheng Zixuan's accounts.

Back when they were in the forests of Luoyan City in the Sha Tu Empire, he had even seen Nie Kong with his own eyes. At that time, Nie Kong had just earned his Fourth-Grade Spirit Alchemist certificate from the Medicine Platform, and his cultivation hadn't even reached the Yu Ling level. Yet, it was astonishing that in only two or three short years, he had become a Tian Ling powerhouse.

Furthermore, he had refined the Ninth-Grade Spirit Herb, the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus.'

While he might not be beyond all successors, he was certainly without predecessor. Although that 'Ruyi Fire Lotus' could only raise a Tian Ling Master's cultivation from Tian Ling Second Grade to Tian Ling Third Grade, and its medicinal fusion rate was only seventy-five percent, the significance it held was anything but simple.

For all Seventh-Grade Spirit Alchemists and Eighth-Grade Medicine Kings, obtaining and constantly observing the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus' would be of immense benefit. For the majority of the Tian Ling powerhouses who had rushed to Luo City, although the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus' offered no direct benefit to them, their curiosity remained undiminished.

Nie Kong has now researched and refined the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus'; who could guarantee that he wouldn't refine Ninth-Grade Spirit Herbs capable of boosting higher-tier Tian Ling cultivation in the future?

"Grandfather Consort."

Cheng Zixuan emerged from behind him. He was much more mature and steady now, the flightiness and impulsiveness of his youth gone from his demeanor.

Cheng Feixing did not turn around. "Any news from the Crimson Tower?" he asked calmly.

"Still the same as before."

Cheng Zixuan replied quickly, though his mind involuntarily drifted to two dazzling figures.

The elder sister was delicate and elegant; the younger sister was enchantingly alluring...

Despite their contrasting temperaments, both resembled ripe fruit, stirring an unbearable urge to pluck them. As soon as this pair of sisters arrived in Luo City, the Fourth Prince Cheng Zixuan had been smitten, wishing to take them as his imperial consorts. Unfortunately, he had been repeatedly rebuffed, barely managing to exchange a few words.

He had not given up, persistently hoping that his sincerity might move the hearts of the sisters.

Alas, Cheng Zixuan's efforts were entirely in vain. Not to mention the elder sister, who was elusive as a phantom, the younger sister had never given him a proper look either. Only upon learning that both women were already spoken for, and that the man was Nie Kong, did his fiery heart finally turn ice-cold.

The moment he thought of Nie Kong, his heart was filled with bitterness. Not only did Nie Kong far surpass him in alchemy and cultivation, but even the women he had finally set his sights on were occupied by Nie Kong. Nie Kong was truly his nemesis. He used to dream of catching up to and surpassing Nie Kong, but the current Nie Kong was a Tian Ling powerhouse, the foremost Medicine King after Meng Feiyang—how could a figure so lofty still be attainable?

"Instruct your siblings to remain honestly within the Imperial Palace for this entire month. Unless it is my direct order, no one is permitted to leave. Any violation will result in removal from the family register."

"Yes!"

"..."