The word hung in the air, causing both Yu Lianxiu and Hua Feifei to freeze momentarily. The complexions of Teng Jiao and the other two shifted to something grim; they exchanged furtive glances, clearly astonished by the nature of the relationship between Nie Kong and Tai Yan. The atmosphere in the room immediately thickened with awkwardness.

Not long after, the five visitors took their leave.

Nie Kong closed the door and teased, "Tai Yan, it seems your little remark thoroughly dampened their spirits. How did you get to know them?"

"That was the point—to make them unhappy so they won't bother coming back."

Tai Yan’s beautiful eyes flickered with mischief, and she playfully stuck out her tongue.

The story was actually quite simple. The day Nie Kong left Shenglong City, Tai Yan returned to the shop near dusk. As she removed her veil upon entering, she was spotted by Teng Jiao, Lin Rong, and Xiang Tiange, who were instantly captivated by her celestial beauty. After making an acquaintance under false pretenses, they began hovering around her relentlessly starting the next day.

Unfortunately, Tai Yan showed them no favor. Thus, Teng Jiao and the others roped in their fellow disciples, Yu Lianxiu and Hua Feifei. Coincidentally, Tai Yan had changed her mind and wanted to inquire about the Danxian Sect, leading to a slow acquaintance that blossomed into friendship.

"I never thought my little sister Tai Yan would resort to using a honey trap," Nie Kong chuckled upon hearing the tale. He paid little mind to the fact that Tai Yan’s appearance had been revealed. Although she had appeared before figures like Kou Xilai, it had always been in the form of the Huicai Grass, never her human guise.

"There was no such thing,"

Tai Yan pouted her red lips, leaning against Nie Kong’s chest and wriggling her delicate frame in a way that suggested spoiled intimacy. "Brother, I managed to pry quite a bit of information about Xi’s homeland from them."

Nie Kong sat down, holding Tai Yan close. "Oh? Tell me quickly."

"First, there's the 'Dan Gong Immortal Assembly'."

Tai Yan hurried to explain, "Teng Jiao mentioned that the Danxian Sect recently acquired several precious Da herbs and grasses that have been extinct in the Shenkong Realm for nearly ten thousand years, along with several incomplete Ninth-Grade Da medicinal formulas. That’s why they’ve invited so many Yaowang—to study the properties of these Da herbs and grasses and to repair the recipes."

Nie Kong’s heart gave a sharp tug. "Is that so..."

Tai Yan's words, combined with the intelligence gathered from Xinyi City, sparked an idea in Nie Kong's mind. Perhaps the precious Da herbs and grasses supposedly extinct in the Shenkong Realm were the rare Yaowu that Kou Xilai and his group brought over from the Tianling Continent, and those incomplete Ninth-Grade formulas might have been copied from the Compendium of Materia Medica?

One had to remember that Nie Kong had published several Ninth-Grade spirit medicine formulas in that Yaodian, most of which originated from the relics of the Danxian Sect within the Spirit Mansion. If those formulas had been lost within the Danxian Sect currently situated in the Shenkong Realm, Kou Xilai and his cohort could have easily passed them off as their own with minor alterations.

Nie Kong mused, "Anything else?"

"Also, the Danxian Sect’s strength is even greater than we suspected," Tai Yan said, her pretty face clouded with worry. "According to them, the Danxian Sect has one hundred and thirteen Ninth-Rank Illusion Masters, and two who have just broken through the Third Spirit Tribulation to become Spirit Gods—they haven't left the Shenkong Realm yet."

"This is true?"

Nie Kong was slightly startled but did not doubt Tai Yan's account.

The circumstances in the Shenkong Realm differed greatly from those on the Tianling Continent. On the Tianling Continent, upon breaking through to the Spirit God realm, one could see the 'World Gate' and was compelled to pass through it into the 'Taizun Spirit Realm' within a very short time—it was unavoidable, unless one was like the Dragon Ancestor.

But the Shenkong Realm was far more lenient. The World Gate only appeared proactively on the first day of every January to usher all new Spirit Gods across. By the Shenkong Realm’s calendar, it was currently June, meaning there were still half a year until January 1st. This implied that for the next six months, the Danxian Sect would continuously have two Spirit Gods presiding over it.

With two Spirit Gods present, it was no wonder the Danxian Sect had endured countless years without collapse; even after losing the Spirit Mansion during the great upheaval ten thousand years ago, it had not withered.

Tai Yan couldn't help but ask, "Brother, have you had any gains these past few days?"

Nie Kong nodded. "Yes, they are right here."

"So what do we do now?"

Tai Yan pouted her small mouth in distress, clutching her abdomen and murmuring glumly, "If only I were a true Spirit God right now."

"Don't worry, let me think..."

Nie Kong comforted her, patting her smooth thigh, his mind racing as he muttered, "For Yaoshi who haven't received an invitation, I wonder if they can still attend their 'Dan Gong Immortal Assembly'?"

"I'll go ask Yu Lianxiu! They shouldn't have gone far yet," Tai Yan’s eyes lit up, and she sprang up from Nie Kong’s embrace, moving urgently.

"No rush, we need to finalize our plan first," Nie Kong quickly pulled her back.

"Mm."

Tai Yan reluctantly settled back down.

Currently, Kou Xilai and the others were hidden somewhere within the Danxian Sect’s territory, and if they intended to make a move, they needed to pinpoint that location. If they brazenly headed to the Danxian Sect’s base, they would likely be stopped immediately. Therefore, the upcoming 'Dan Gong Immortal Assembly' presented a perfect opportunity to infiltrate the Danxian Sect.

While the spirit Yaoyao of the Tianling Continent, the Netherworld Pills of the Underworld Soil, and the Dan Yaoyao of the Shenkong Realm differed, their refinement processes were fundamentally similar.

As the foremost Yaowang of the Tianling Continent, and having spent considerable time studying the Danxian Sect relics from ten thousand years ago, Nie Kong possessed a profound understanding of pill refinement here. If he could secure an entry ticket to the 'Dan Gong Immortal Assembly,' handling the situation would be no problem at all.

The two deliberated on various potential scenarios for nearly half an hour before Nie Kong and Tai Yan finally left the inn, heading toward the east side of the city.

They did not seek out Yu Lianxiu or Hua Feifei; instead, they went directly to find an External Affairs Elder of the Danxian Sect named Luan. According to the intelligence Tai Yan had acquired, Elder Luan was entirely in charge of receiving guests for the 'Dan Gong Immortal Assembly,' and she would know best whether uninvited Yaoshi could attend.

After walking for over fifteen minutes, Nie Kong and Tai Yan arrived at the foot of Shenxiu Peak, east of the city.

Surrounding Shenglong City were six prominent peaks, their solid city walls connecting them to form a vast protective barrier, with several Elders stationed on each peak.

This year's 'Dan Gong Immortal Assembly' was set to take place within Shenxiu Peak.

At the base of the mountain, a considerable number of Illusion Masters were already gathered at the entrance. From Nie Kong’s observation, the lowest cultivation level among them was at least Eighth-Rank.

More people continued to converge on the area, and occasionally, someone would present an invitation and be ushered up Shenxiu Peak; nearly all of them were Ninth-Rank powerhouses accompanied by their retinues.

Nie Kong observed from a distance for a moment, then gestured to Tai Yan before walking toward the entrance.

Guarding the entrance were several Eighth-Rank Illusion Masters of the Danxian Sect.

When Nie Kong approached one of them to state his purpose, before he could even ask for an introduction to Elder Luan, the Illusion Master pointed toward a broad hall tens of meters away. Confused, the pair entered the hall only to find about a dozen people already waiting there.