"What a twist of fate, running into you here!"

Kou Qinglian was initially startled, but then burst into maniacal laughter. "Qi Bo, Nie Kong is a mortal enemy of our Spirit God Hall! Today is the perfect day to slay him!"

Unfortunately, his proposal failed to elicit any response from the Sky Spirit experts.

Kou Qinglian couldn't help but glance over, only to see several faces grim, showing not the slightest intention of making a move. A chill ran down his spine, and the reason, clouded by jealousy and rage, suddenly cleared.

It dawned on him then that back in the Forbidden Spirit Marsh, even his own grandfather, two High Gods, and more than a dozen Sky Spirit powerhouses couldn't deal with Nie Kong. How much less so now, with only four Sky Spirit experts and a single Alchemist Master present.

"You say you want to kill me?"

Lou Kong looked at Kou Qinglian with a strange expression, as if observing a complete fool.

Kou Qinglian's lips moved, his face flushing crimson, yet he couldn't utter a single defiant word. Finally, he could only glare viciously at Yu Xuan: "Yu Xuan, in doing this, have you considered the fate of the Feather Spirit Clan?"

Feather Spirit Clan?

Nie Kong froze for a moment, then lowered his head to look at the lovely, melon-seed-faced beauty in his arms. "You aren't Yu Xuan, but Yu Xuan, a member of the Feather Spirit Clan?" He suddenly understood; no wonder she had felt so familiar when he first saw her—Yu Xuan's entire demeanor was identical to the Feather Spirit Clan members he had encountered before.

"Yes!" Yu Xuan's cheeks were flushed crimson, and she cast a somewhat guilty glance toward Bai Yuqing. "Yuqing, I apologize. I haven't told you my real name these past few days."

"It matters not."

Bai Yuqing spoke calmly. "I know the person, not just the name."

Seeing that Yu Xuan ignored him, Kou Qinglian roared in frustration: "Yu Xuan, your Feather Spirit Clan will pay the price! I hope you won't regret it when the time comes!"

"You..."

Yu Xuan’s richly colored cheeks paled slightly, and her body instinctively retreated a step.

Nie Kong’s fingers had given the impression of moving deeper toward the secret space between Yu Xuan’s legs, yet they never actually touched that area, merely kneading the curve of her buttocks. Sensing her reaction, he subconsciously withdrew his hand, frowning. "Yu Xuan, has your Feather Spirit Clan encountered some trouble?"

Yu Xuan managed a wry smile. "My mother is the Feather Empress of the Feather Spirit Clan. She was severely injured while undergoing the first stage of the Spirit Tribulation. She must suppress the injuries with various spiritual medicines, and the most crucial one, the Grade Eight spiritual medicine, the One Origin Tribulation Star Elixir, is only available at the Spirit God Hall. Therefore, my Feather Spirit Clan made a trade with the Spirit God Hall: I marry Kou Qinglian, and in return, the Spirit God Hall supplies my mother with one One Origin Tribulation Star Elixir annually. Furthermore, if a major crisis occurs, the Feather Spirit Clan must obey the orders of the Spirit God Hall."

"I see. No wonder the Feather Spirit Clan has been buying up valuable medicine everywhere these past two years," Nie Kong realized with sudden clarity.

"Yu Xuan, if you come over now, I can pretend this never happened. Otherwise, don't blame the Spirit God Hall for cutting off your mother's One Origin Tribulation Star Elixir!" Kou Qinglian sneered menacingly. "Nie Kong, what good is it that you cracked the formula for the One Origin Tribulation Star Elixir? The two main ingredients for refining this Grade Eight spiritual medicine are exclusive to our Spirit God Hall!"

"It seems you haven't read my compiled Compendium of Materia Medica carefully," Nie Kong said, neither rushed nor agitated. "Beneath the formula for the One Origin Tribulation Star Elixir, I specifically noted that the Spirit God Hall's two main ingredients are not entirely suitable, and I listed two alternative herbs with far better effects. Coincidentally, I can find both of those in my Spirit Abode's medicinal garden."

"Impossible!"

Kou Qinglian's sinister grin froze instantly on his face. He turned to the old man beside him, seeking confirmation with his eyes.

The old man in red robes narrowed his eyes, his expression grim as he nodded. "The Compendium of Materia Medica does indeed state that. Haoran and the others also studied the properties of those two substitute herbs; they are indeed more fitting for the One Origin Tribulation Star Elixir. If we refine the medicine using the new formula, the integration rate could increase by at least ten percent."

"This... this..."

Kou Qinglian looked from the old man in red to Nie Kong, muttering, "How could this be?" His handsome face was etched with undisguised disappointment.

"Yu Xuan, the Feather Spirit Clan no longer needs to make any deals with the Spirit God Hall," Nie Kong stated calmly. "When we return to the Spirit Abode, I will immediately refine a One Origin Tribulation Star Elixir for you, guaranteed to have an integration rate exceeding ninety-five percent. You can also invite your mother to the Spirit Abode; perhaps I can find a way to completely cure your mother's injuries so she can recover fully."

Upon learning that Yu Xuan was the Feather Empress's daughter, Nie Kong had already begun to scheme. Currently, the Flower Spirit, Dragon Spirit, and Fish Spirit Clans were all on good terms with him. If he could also win over the Feather Spirit Clan, which was preparing to ally with the Spirit God Hall through marriage, then four out of the five major Spirit Clans would stand by his side.

It would simultaneously weaken the Spirit God Hall and enhance his own prestige—a benefit too good to pass up.

"Nie Kong, are you telling the truth?" Yu Xuan asked, a mix of joy and disbelief in her voice.

"You doubt my alchemy skills?" Nie Kong smiled.

"I trust you, I trust you! You even succeeded in refining Grade Nine spiritual medicine, let alone the One Origin Tribulation Star Elixir. Nie Kong, thank you!" Yu Xuan involuntarily threw herself into Nie Kong's embrace, trembling with excitement. Since learning Nie Kong's identity, she had harbored this hope but hadn't found the right opportunity.

"How do you plan to thank me?"

Nie Kong chuckled softly, his hand patting the curve of Yu Xuan's pert hip.

Yu Xuan felt a pleasant tingling run through her body but offered no resistance. She just blushed, a little shyly: "Nie Kong, however you want me to thank you, that is how I will thank you."

"Adulterer and slut! Adulterer and slut!"

Kou Qinglian had just recovered his senses when he witnessed the scene of 'loving devotion' between Nie Kong and Yu Xuan. His eyes immediately turned bloodshot with rage, feeling as if his chest might explode. If it weren't for the vast difference in power between himself and Nie Kong, he would have surely rushed forward to tear Nie Kong limb from limb.

"Nie Kong, it seems you are determined to become an enemy of our Spirit God Hall?" the old man in red said solemnly. While Kou Qinglian was entangled with Nie Kong and Yu Xuan, the four of them had exchanged glances, their expressions shifting as they communicated through spiritual sense.

Nie Kong feigned surprise. "Were we not enemies before today?"

The old man in red was rendered speechless with anger. After a long moment, he took a deep breath. "Nie Kong, if this old man hasn't guessed wrong, you must have just been fighting with that Nightless Heaven Elixir Spirit just now?"

Nie Kong said playfully, "You were looking for him too? I'm terribly sorry, but you are late; that Elixir Spirit has already been consumed by my Elixir Spirit."

"Indeed!"

The old man in red exchanged glances with the other three, their expressions growing even gloomier. He narrowed his eyes, then suddenly shouted, "Qinglian, let's go!"

"Hold it!"

Nie Kong suddenly released Bai Yuqing and Yu Xuan, his figure flashing as he blocked their exit path.

Tai Yan was also ready. Almost simultaneously with Nie Kong's movement, her fiery figure transformed into a dense mass of crimson mist, forming a semicircle to encircle the group.

"You can leave, but leave that thing behind."

Nie Kong pointed at the green circular disk in the hand of the old man in red. Though he didn't know what the object was, the aura it emitted was deeply intriguing to him.

"You want this old man's Tracer Mechanism Medicine Disk?"

The faces of the others turned exceptionally ugly. The old man in red's eyes were venomous as he shouted furiously, "Nie Kong, you are pushing things too far! Do you think we are truly afraid of you?"