At this moment, everyone realized that, with the exception of the Feathered Spirit Clan among the five great spirit races, almost every other noted power on the Heavenly Spirit Continent had gathered at Nie Kong's Spirit Residence. The number of Heavenly Spirit experts present likely accounted for about seventy percent of the entire continent's top-tier cultivators.

Such a massive convergence of Heavenly Spirit experts and major powers meant that the founding ceremony of the Medicine King Palace was destined to be an event of unprecedented grandeur in the history of the Heavenly Spirit Continent.

However, a sense of unease was beginning to grip the onlookers.

With the successive appearances of the Serpent Spirit Clan and the Spirit God Hall, this grand occasion suddenly felt charged with palpable hostility.

"Screech!"

A grating sound ripped through the air as the tightly shut doors of the Medicine King Palace flew open rapidly. More than a dozen figures emerged elegantly, with Nie Kong leading the way.

Trailing behind him was a dazzling array of enchanting women: Yu Qinglan, Yu Xuan, Long Ping, Long Ting, Ling Yanluo... they were all present.

"He truly healed Yu Qinglan!"

On the right side of the square, looking at the radiant Yu Qinglan, Lu Rong's aged face registered unconcealed astonishment. "It seems the Feathered Spirit Clan has completely aligned itself with Nie Kong."

Kou Xilai murmured grimly, "One Yu Qinglan won't change the overall situation."

"That Nie Kong is already a Heavenly Spirit Ninth Grade!" Suddenly, the young man shrouded in black robes beside them spoke up, his eyes flashing with dark light.

"Heavenly Spirit Ninth Grade?"

Hearing this, not only the surrounding elders of the Spirit God Hall but even Kou Xilai and Lu Rong were profoundly surprised.

Others might doubt the words of the black-robed man, but Kou Xilai and Lu Rong believed every syllable, for within his body resided the soul of the 'Dark Night Divine Venerable' from the Supreme Venerable Spirit Realm. If he claimed Nie Kong was Heavenly Spirit Ninth Grade, then Nie Kong could absolutely not be merely Eighth Grade.

How could Nie Kong's cultivation have advanced so rapidly?

Inadvertently, Kou Xilai, She Qianbian, and Mo Tian exchanged significant glances.

"My man is finally out."

Seeing Nie Kong, Mu Qingying sprang up as if released by a spring, the eyes concealed behind her veil already curved into crescent moons of unrestrained joy.

"What 'man,' you must call him 'husband'," Mu Qingyi sharply pulled Mu Qingying, who was about to run toward Nie Kong, back to her seat. With a stern face, she whispered a reprimand, "Girl, you are now of the Yin Ruins Wood Sect. You cannot speak so casually in public anymore."

"Aren't they the same thing?" Mu Qingying grumbled.

"..."

Mu Xueyi, Mu Jinzhu, and the others beside them could not help but stifle their laughter. Their gazes then shifted away from the visibly uncomfortable Mu Qingying, settling on Nie Kong.

At this moment, Yu Qinglan was already leading Yu Xuan and Long Ping toward the left side of the square, while Nie Kong walked slowly and deliberately toward the central high platform alone. For a moment, nearly every eye in the vicinity fixed upon him. The previously boisterous crowd quieted down imperceptibly.

In this very moment, a peculiar smile suddenly touched Nie Kong's lips. Throughout history, which sect could have orchestrated such a magnificent and ostentatious founding ceremony as his Medicine King Palace?

"And yet, it’s the sect with the fewest true members!"

As of now, the only ones truly belonging to the Medicine King Palace were Nie Kong, the Palace Master, and his sole disciple, Ling Yanluo.

Tai Yan, Hua Mei, Long Xuechan, Long Meixian, Long Ping, Long Ting—these women were either his lovers or his maids, and currently held little official connection to the Medicine King Palace; Qing Yue, Lan Ling, and Hulu were dependent upon him, also detached from the Palace's official structure; as for Ling Xiao, Mu Chonglou, You Li, Hua Yi, and the others, although they had agreed to serve as Guest Elders of the Medicine King Palace, they were not genuine disciples.

Smiling inwardly, Nie Kong's gaze swept across, instantly cataloging the figures seated on both sides.

His mother Mu Xueyi, Mu Qingyi, Meng Feiyang, Long Tiangong, Hua Caidie, Hua Yi, You Li, Nie Shenggong... The square was packed with familiar faces and many more Heavenly Spirit experts he was meeting for the first time. Sects like the Mara Sacred Mountain, the Serpent Spirit Clan, and the Spirit God Hall had sent nearly all their strongest members.

Individuals like Kou Xilai and She Qianbian, though sitting quietly, emanated the sharp killing aura of unsheathed blades. They certainly hadn't come to offer sincere congratulations, and Nie Kong's decision to host this ceremony also meant his true intentions lay elsewhere.

Their presence played perfectly into Nie Kong's strategy, the only minor regret being that Bai Yuqing and Mu Hongling were not here. After their second intimate encounter, Bai Yuqing had returned to Jiyang City, and Mu Hongling had vanished somewhere unknown, even Mu Chonglou was unaware of her whereabouts.

Fortunately, amidst the disappointment, Nie Kong experienced a pleasant surprise: Long Meixian had actually accompanied Long Xuechan to the Spirit Residence!

Glancing from afar at her noticeably swollen abdomen, Nie Kong's heart pounded, filled with a surge of unexpected excitement. However, this was hardly the time for romantic sentiment. With a flicker of thought, Nie Kong’s mind settled, and he proceeded up the steps toward the high platform.

Standing firmly at the center of the platform, Nie Kong, clad in robes as white as snow, stood tall and imposing. A vast aura surged from within him, instantly permeating an area spanning several thousand meters. In that instant, in the eyes of the crowd, the white silhouette on the platform seemed to transform into a colossal jade pillar, impossibly grand.

"Fellow Daoists, welcome to the Spirit Residence..."

Nie Kong surveyed the surroundings, his voice like the resonant chime of a massive bell, echoing powerfully in every direction. "Before the formal inauguration of the Medicine King Palace's Founding Ceremony, I wish to share some wonderful news. Starting next month, every town on the Heavenly Spirit Continent with a population exceeding one hundred thousand will establish a Junior Pharmacy Academy; those over three hundred thousand will host an Intermediate Pharmacy Academy; those over five hundred thousand, a Senior Pharmacy Academy; and the major cities exceeding a million inhabitants will host the Medicine King Academy, personally overseen by esteemed Eighth Grade Medicine Kings such as City Lord Meng Feiyang, Sect Master You Li, Elder Hua Yi, and Sect Master Ling Xiao. All Pharmacy Academies will operate under the jurisdiction of the Medicine King Palace. Details will be announced after the ceremony. I welcome all fellow Spirit Apothecaries to serve as professors at these academies; those professors who perform excellently may receive guidance from Eighth Grade Medicine Kings, or even come to the Medicine King Palace to discuss the Way of Medicine with me."

As the final word faded, the surroundings fell into a deathly silence.

"Whoosh!"

But immediately following, it was as if tens of thousands of pounds of explosives detonated simultaneously. The massive sound wave coalesced into a torrential flood, threatening to overturn the entire Spirit Residence. Nie Kong’s sudden announcement was like a boulder hurled into a placid lake, sending shockwaves through the crowd. Especially the Spirit Apothecaries, who trembled with sheer excitement.

Professors showing excellent performance might receive guidance from Eighth Grade Medicine Kings, or even discuss the Way of Medicine with Nie Kong...

This was, of course, Nie Kong speaking with humility. Across the entire Heavenly Spirit Continent, only a handful of Eighth Grade Medicine Kings possessed the capability to engage Nie Kong in a genuine discussion on the Way of Medicine. Though this prospect felt distant, hearing the news instilled an undeniable hope in the hearts of every Spirit Apothecary present.

...