Nie Kong’s heart gave a violent lurch. He didn't even have time to circulate the vital power within him before his eyelids grew heavy and his body pitched backward, falling motionless.

Watching Nie Kong slump into slumber, Yu Ting Lei’s small hands clenched and loosened repeatedly. After a long moment, she seemed to have finally made a decision. Biting her crimson lip, her body slowly leaned forward.

The gleam of the Bei Ye Pearl intensified, dazzling and brilliant.

Within the azure light screen, two fading figures slowly converged. Moments later, Nie Kong and Yu Ting Lei merged into one, their pressed-together forms subsequently enveloped and swallowed by the crystalline glow.

Ephemeral… illusory…

Nie Kong felt the Bei Ye Pearl in his hand transform into a vast lake, shaped like a scallop shell. He himself became a tiny, brilliant golden fish, swimming freely within its expanse.

Unbeknownst to him, another beautiful, azure little fish appeared beside Nie Kong, trailing him like a shadow.

The two fish moved as if they were one entity, their coordination utterly seamless. At times they shot to the crest of the waves; at others, they dove into the deepest parts of the lake; occasionally, they leaped out of the water together…

Amidst the bright ripples, two figures—one gold, one blue—chased and frolicked, resembling a pair of graceful dancers.

Who knew how much time passed, but as the two small fish once again streamed down from the wave crests with the current, Nie Kong finally felt exhaustion creep in. His body, carried by that deep, intense pleasure, slowly sank toward the bottom.

The azure lake water gradually gave way to darkness…

After what felt like an eternity, Nie Kong snapped awake in shock. The little blue fish that had accompanied him for so long had vanished without a sound. He frantically turned his eyes to search.

All around him was black as ink. Nie Kong hurriedly swam upward.

Seconds later, Nie Kong discovered the bizarre reality: though he swam upwards, his body continued to sink relentlessly. The surrounding darkness surged inward, threatening to devour him.

“Ah!”

Nie Kong couldn't help but roar aloud.

The darkness was suddenly replaced by light. Nie Kong blinked his eyes open quickly, and the familiar scenery flooded his sight. He was sitting right there in the medicinal garden, looking around in bewilderment.

“So it was just a dream.”

Nie Kong let out a breath, a faint, self-mocking smile touching his lips as he recalled the shell-shaped lake and that lovely blue fish from the dream.

He glanced around, but Yu Ting Lei was nowhere in sight.

She must have left after he fell asleep. Nie Kong straightened his clothes and reached for the medicine vial on the ground, but his right palm froze mid-air.

The Bei Ye Pearl… gone?

If Yu Ting Lei intended to leave the Bei Ye Pearl to him, she wouldn't have spirited it away silently. Nie Kong sensed deeply, yet detected not the slightest trace of the pearl's aura. The bizarre events surrounding the Bei Ye Pearl last night involuntarily resurfaced, and Nie Kong had a creeping feeling that something was terribly wrong.

That the Bei Ye Pearl could put him to sleep so effortlessly was extremely strange. Something must have happened while he was unconscious last night?

And that dream—it probably wasn't as simple as it seemed.

Nie Kong wasn't worried that Yu Ting Lei had secretly played a trick on him, but he quickly checked his entire body, finding nothing amiss…

No—that wasn't right!

Nie Kong abruptly pulled out the Hai Shen Pearl, his eyes filled with utter disbelief.

Prior to today, he could only sense the immense, boundless spiritual water element from the Hai Shen Pearl, along with the lingering auras of several Fish Kings attached to it. But now, he discovered a wondrous, new connection had formed between him and the pearl. It felt as if it had become an extension of his own body, and the methods for utilizing the Hai Shen Pearl flashed through his mind with sudden, crystalline clarity.

With a mere thought, the Hai Shen Pearl sank into his chest, merging completely with his physique. With another mental command, the pearl slowly separated from his body and reappeared.

Controlling the Hai Shen Pearl was as effortless as moving his own limbs.

Nie Kong felt even more astounded, his brow furrowing deeper.

Logically, only the successive Fish Kings of the Yu Ling Clan should possess such absolute command over the Hai Shen Pearl. Yet, overnight, he had acquired this ability.

All of this must be connected to the sudden, strange transformation of the Bei Ye Pearl.

Nie Kong sprang up, vanishing from the medicinal garden in a flash. He needed to know what exactly happened last night, and questioning Yu Ting Lei was the only way to find out.

The next moment, Nie Kong appeared on the fifth level of the Medicine Pagoda.

“Brother,” a sweet voice suddenly rang out, and a crimson silhouette cheerfully bounded up from the staircase—her figure exquisitely graceful, her curves alluring.

“Tai Yan, you’ve come out of seclusion? How was the effect of this confinement?” Nie Kong’s brows immediately smoothed out. Seeing the girl after only a few days, she seemed even more beautiful; her features retained their purity, yet the inherent seductiveness woven into her bones had deepened considerably.

“It probably won't be long before I become a true Spirit God.”

Tai Yan, beaming, walked up to Nie Kong and casually looped her arm through his. “Right, Brother, before I came, Aunt Xue asked me to tell you that Sister Yu has already left.”

“Sister Yu? Yu Ting Lei? When did she leave?” Nie Kong started.

“She left just as dawn broke.”

“Damn.”

Nie Kong was even more puzzled. Yu Ting Lei had left in such a hurry?

Tai Yan seemed to recall something and quickly added, “Brother, Sister Yu also had Aunt Xue convey a message: the changes to the Hai Shen Pearl are beneficial to you, nothing to worry about.”

“…”

Nie Kong suddenly felt a sense of release. Looking at the situation now, the alteration to the Hai Shen Pearl was indeed harmless to him. Perhaps Yu Ting Lei merely used some means to induce that transformation in the Hai Shen Pearl so that he could locate Yu Long Yue more easily within the Divine Void Realm.

As for the disappearance of the Bei Ye Pearl—though Yu Ting Lei hadn't mentioned it, it was likely tied to the Hai Shen Pearl’s transformation as well. Now that Yu Ting Lei had left the Spirit Residence, chasing after her would be a waste of time. It would be better to wait until their next meeting. Perhaps once he found Yu Long Yue, she could also clear the confusion in his mind.

“Let’s go see your Sister Hua Mei.”

Changing his focus, Nie Kong dismissed the matter, pinched Tai Yan’s tender cheek, and led the girl toward the top floor…

Two days later, on the ninth level of the Medicine Pagoda.

Nie Kong stood still in the center of the medicinal garden. The circular altar before him was now emanating a misty light.

Thanks to Hua Pian Pian’s several days of effort, the primary illusionary talismans composing this teleportation array had been repaired enough to force one activation. However, after this use, the array would collapse even more thoroughly. Even with the Sumeru Divine Embryo, repairing it would be almost impossible for Hua Pian Pian’s current strength.

Nie Kong wasn't worried about this. When the time came, guided by Yu Long Yue, he could still return to the Celestial Spirit Continent, though it would take longer.

“It’s time to depart!”

Nie Kong let out a slow breath, unable to resist glancing back toward the exit of the medicinal garden.

Today, he had chosen to leave quietly, without asking anyone to see him off. His main reason was to avoid seeing Hua Mei and the others with tearful eyes, making it seem like a true parting of life and death.

“Da Yan, Qing You, Hulu, Lan Ling, be ready!”

Nie Kong composed himself, lifted his foot, and stepped into the illusionary array. His vital power surged from his body, instantly merging with the illusionary talismans. Solid, scorching light coiled upward like vibrant flood dragons. Nie Kong’s figure grew fainter, and within seconds, he had vanished from the array.

Crack, crack…

The illusionary array cracked, fissures rapidly appearing. In the blink of an eye, with a loud boom, the entire circular altar disintegrated into a pile of dust. A minute or two later, a dozen figures rushed in from the distance one after another. Seeing the ruined state of the array, they exchanged glances, their expressions varied—some worried, some annoyed…

(End of Volume)