As he guided the Soul-Eater Eagle King northward, Nie Kong couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.

Not long after returning to his residence with Taiyan the previous night, Nie Xingyun, who had only been back at the Nie family for less than half a month, arrived at the Spirit Abode again, bringing word that Sudha wished to see him. This news only caused Nie Kong a slight surprise, but the next sentence Nie Xingyun uttered left Nie Kong utterly incredulous.

The last time Nie Kong visited Lingyu City, he had met Patriarch Suba and inquired about Sudha, only learning then that Suba and Sudha were brothers. However, Nie Kong had never imagined any connection between Sudha and Bai Yuqing.

Although the news seemed somewhat preposterous, upon closer reflection, it didn't seem entirely sudden. The Bai family maintained close ties with Elder Gu Changgong, the Master of the Heart of Medicine Hall in Lingyu City, and Sudha was a powerful figure originating from Lingyu City who had been living in seclusion in Yaoyang. For him to take Bai Yuqing as a disciple, while unexpected, was still within the bounds of reason.

Nie Kong intended to question his master further, but Nie Xingyun couldn't offer any more details.

He had suddenly heard Sudha's voice while resting in the middle of the night, prompting him to use the 'Spirit Returning Jade Block' to hurry over, and he was unaware of why Sudha summoned Nie Kong.

In the end, Nie Kong had no choice but to set off immediately for Yaoyang City.

This time, only Taiyan and Hulu accompanied Nie Kong. As for Qingyue, Nie Kong had already severed her connection with the Beast Taming Sect's spirit tokens. The little one had initially been unwilling to leave the token because she wanted to wander around with Nie Kong, but now, with the Nine-Layered Medicine Garden established, she had zero interest in setting out.

Hulu, in stark contrast to Qingyue, constantly complained about Nie Kong not taking him along. When Nie Kong met Nie Xingyun, Hulu happened to be in the pavilion, saw Nie Kong wasn't planning to take him, and flopped onto the ground, rolling around and throwing a tantrum, getting his fair, tender body covered in grime.

Thus, Hulu successfully took Qingyue's place, occasionally perching on Nie Kong's chest, looking around excitedly, and then shouting gleefully.

"Brother, who is Bai Yuqing?"

High in the pitch-black sky, Taiyan had long since transformed into the Back-Gazing Grass and burrowed into Nie Kong's embrace, finally unable to contain her curiosity. "Is she another woman who can fight with Brother?"

"Ahem, no."

Nie Kong coughed dryly. It was true that Bai Yuqing often sparred with him when they were in Lingyu City, but the 'fighting' then was not the same as the 'fighting' now.

Seeing Taiyan make an 'oh' sound that suggested disbelief, Nie Kong was about to offer an explanation when a thought abruptly flashed through his mind. Sudha hadn't told his master the reason for needing to see him immediately, yet he divulged that Bai Yuqing was his disciple. Could this matter be related to Bai Yuqing?

Nie Kong felt a slight shock in his heart and patted the Soul-Eater Eagle King's back: "Soul-Eater, faster!"

"Creee!"

The Soul-Eater Eagle King let out a sharp cry, its speed abruptly increasing by nearly twenty percent, resembling a streak of black meteor, rocketing across the firmament. Before long, the horizon began to glow with dawn. Then, as the sun rose and set, by evening, the Soul-Eater Eagle King had arrived above Jiyang City.

Compared to his last arrival in Jiyang City, Nie Kong's sensory perception had improved several times over. Even so, Nie Kong could only detect Nie Shengong within the city, with no other expert at the Second Heaven Realm in sight.

"Nie Kong, you've arrived..." A faint, thread-like voice suddenly sounded in Nie Kong's ear. "Sudha... he is there!"

Nie Kong's heart skipped a beat. The moment Sudha's voice sounded, the Nie family's gathering place finally revealed a clue. Although the sign was incredibly subtle, it was captured precisely by Nie Kong's spiritual sense. With a shift in intent, Nie Kong's figure vanished from the Soul-Eater Eagle King's back: the next instant, Nie Kong appeared on a wide, open ground.

"Hall of Life and Death?"

Seeing the familiar architecture surrounding him, and that massive Dragon Stone Gate, Nie Kong felt a touch of surprise. This Hall of Life and Death contained the "Illusionary Realm of Life and Death," which could be considered a forbidden area for the Nie family. Back when he was just a Spirit Gatherer, he, Bai Yuqing, and others had spent a considerable amount of time within this hall.

She Qianbian and his mother, among others, had failed to locate Sudha's exact hiding spot last time, yet Nie Kong never expected he would be residing within the Hall of Life and Death? However, there was absolutely no space inside the hall where someone could hide. He couldn't fathom how he managed to remain undiscovered for over three centuries!

Doubt crowded Nie Kong's mind, but his actions showed no pause.

His figure flashed instantly to the hall entrance. He exerted force with his right hand and pushed; the heavy Dragon Stone Gate opened with a slight gap, and Nie Kong slipped inside. Within the hall, the carrier for the Illusionary Realm continued to flicker with dazzling, ethereal light, casting the Hall of Life and Death in shifting shadows, making it seem dreamlike and unreal.

Sudha's voice sounded again, carrying a note of amused sentiment: "Nie Kong, the speed at which your cultivation advances is truly startling. Last time, you couldn't sense my presence at all, yet this time, before I even told you the location, you found this place on your own."

"Nie Kong pays his respects, Senior."

Nie Kong's gaze shifted slightly towards the carrier of the Illusionary Realm, and his surprise deepened. Sudha's voice seemed to permeate the entire hall, yet Nie Kong could sense Sudha's aura emanating from the object. Immediately after, a blurred figure began to manifest from the Illusionary Realm carrier.

The figure seemed to be crossing endless void, returning from a distant place, its form gradually becoming clearer. In a moment, it detached itself from the Illusionary Realm carrier—it was an old man with white hair and beard, his face gaunt, with a faint resemblance to Suba visible in his brows.

Nie Kong couldn't help but ask, "Senior was hiding within the Illusionary Realm?"

"Not hiding in the Illusionary Realm, but merging with it."

Sudha shook his head and chuckled. "Over three hundred years ago, when I discovered this Hall of Life and Death and its Illusionary Realm, I took on two disciples: one, an ancestor of your Nie family, and the other, an ancestor of the Bai family. They guard this realm in the open and in secret, while I spent a hundred years completely integrating myself into this Illusionary Realm, and then another two hundred years comprehending the cycle of life and death within it. Now, I am finally on the verge of completion." As he finished, Sudha couldn't help but sigh.

Nie Kong exclaimed, "Nearing completion? Senior speaks of... Spirit Divinity?"

"Precisely."

Sudha nodded slightly, but offered a wry smile. "However, before achieving completion, it is difficult to separate from this Illusionary Realm, nor can I leave this Hall of Life and Death. What you see now is merely an illusory shadow I have condensed. Otherwise, I would not have summoned you here for assistance?"

Nie Kong quickly replied, "Senior, please speak. As long as this junior can accomplish it, I will certainly do my utmost."

"Originally, I only intended to ask for help from your mother and others through you. But seeing you now, I have changed my mind. With your current strength, combined with the two little ones you carry, it should be more than sufficient." Saying this, Sudha gazed intently at Nie Kong. "Nie Kong, this matter concerns Yuqing."