I wonder what kind of benefits were exchanged between Kou Xilai and others and the Pill Immortal Sect, besides medicinal herbs and prescriptions?

Nie Kong's mind raced, and he casually scribbled on the paper.

Perfecting the prescriptions was effortless for Nie Kong. However, the same medicinal ingredients might have different names on the Tianling Continent compared to the Divine Void Realm. If he were to write down the Tianling Continent names, it might alert Zhan Tianfeng and Ye Haoran, which would be more trouble than it's worth.

Fortunately, there was a way to solve this problem: plagiarism.

The surrounding Rank Nine Medicine Kings, upon receiving the prescription drafts, all began to meditate and ponder, occasionally jotting down the deduced ingredients on paper.

Nie Kong also pondered, and after ten minutes or so, he stretched his neck a few times out of fatigue. Apart from Tai Yan, everyone sitting on either side of him was a highly renowned Rank Nine Medicine King from the Divine Void Realm. None of them ever suspected that Nie Kong, also a Rank Nine Medicine King, would resort to copying, showing no restraint in the abbreviated notes he took.

In a flash, dozens of ingredient names were captured in his sight.

Just as Nie Kong had feared, while he was very familiar with some of the drug names, there were others he had never heard of.

Only after some people stopped writing did Nie Kong use the ingredient names he had seen to complete the five Rank Nine pill prescriptions.

When all the Medicine Kings were finished, just like the previous trial-batch results, the prescription sheets began circulating among the crowd. This time, it took longer, and during the exchange, intense arguments could occasionally be heard. Scenes of spittle flying and faces turning red and thick were constantly unfolding.

In some disputes, one party could persuade the other, but at other times, the argument escalated to the verge of physical confrontation.

Those who could become Rank Nine Medicine Kings could almost all be called medicine fanatics, possessing immense confidence in the prescriptions they supplemented. When no one could convince the other, their voices naturally grew louder, and it was only under the soothing intervention of Taishu Yan that the two sides reluctantly calmed down.

Nie Kong watched with keen interest but rarely participated in their debates. When someone next to him asked for his opinion on a prescription, he merely offered noncommittal murmurs of assent.

Approaching noon, two of the prescriptions had gained general approval, but the remaining three had yet to reach a consensus.

After arguing for so long, it was difficult to reach a verbal conclusion; the next step would require practical refinement through alchemy. Of course, that was an afternoon affair.

After Taishu Yan announced the adjournment, Nie Kong couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

The word "Immortal" in this "Pill Palace Immortal Assembly" was truly something of a misnomer; when debating the prescriptions, these Rank Nine Medicine Kings behaved almost like common folk arguing in the streets. However, paradoxically, this very behavior was leading to increasingly clear results. Based on Nie Kong's observations, among the three unresolved prescriptions, the opinions of several Rank Nine Medicine Kings were drawing ever closer to the formulations researched by that Supreme Elder of the Pill Immortal Sect.

"Everyone has worked hard. Junior Sister Luan has already arranged for a luncheon in the next hall. Gentlemen, please proceed."

Taishu Yan and Luan Yexin and the others cordially ushered the invited Medicine Kings out of the hall. Nie Kong linked arms with Tai Yan, walking at the rear, intentionally or unintentionally observing the movements of Zhan Tianfeng and Ye Haoran. Upon reaching the entrance of the adjacent hall, the two unexpectedly took their leave from Taishu Yan and walked up the path toward the mountain.

Nie Kong's heart stirred. Could Kou Xilai and the others be hidden on Mount Shenxiu?

He gently pinched Tai Yan's arm. Tai Yan immediately understood; they subtly shifted their course to align with the pair's direction of travel. A moment later, Nie Kong's figure was obscured by the doorframe of the hall ahead.

"Xiangxiang!"

With a thought, the little creature flashed out of Nie Kong's Spiritual Consciousness Aperture and darted into the roadside grass in a streak. This little fellow emitted absolutely no aura; once obscured from view, even someone like Taishu Yan, or the two newly ascended Spirit Gods of the Pill Immortal Sect, could not detect its movement.

The creature stealthily followed behind Zhan Tianfeng and Ye Haoran, and Nie Kong and Tai Yan then crossed the threshold.

The hall was indeed prepared with a lavish luncheon, but they were seated at separate tables, each person having a low table set before them laden with several delicacies and fine wine.

On the Tianling Continent, dining was generally communal around large tables, so the Pill Immortal Sect's arrangement held a rather ancient flavor.

The dishes on each table seemed to be arranged according to individual tastes. Guided by Luan Yexin and several Rank Nine powerhouses of the Pill Immortal Sect, the sixteen Medicine Kings from external sects took their seats one by one.

"Brother Tai Shuang, come over here."

Just as Nie Kong was searching for his and Tai Yan's seating arrangement, Taishu Yan suddenly smiled and pointed to the seats on his right. These were two low tables placed side-by-side, apparently prepared specifically for Nie Kong and Tai Yan.

"Very well, then my sister and I shall gratefully accept your invitation."

Nie Kong smiled and nodded, walking over with Tai Yan.

Seeing this, the external Medicine Kings showed a touch of surprise, but they quickly understood.

After arriving in Shenglong City, they had all received somewhat confidential news: a Rank Nine Medicine King had suddenly appeared during the Pill Immortal Sect's assessment, demonstrating a masterful command of the "Heavy Blossom" technique and instantly refining a "Hibiscus Falling Petal Pill" of ninety-six quality on the spot.

They had all considered recruiting him, but once they learned that the person was residing in the "Villa of Creation," those thoughts faded. The arrangement of his residence alone indicated that the Pill Immortal Sect was determined to secure him. With the "Pill Immortal Sect" taking the lead, other sects had little hope.

Unless the "Grandmist Heavenly Mansion" also stepped forward to recruit, they would have a chance to compete with the Pill Immortal Sect.

This possibility was extremely slim. The foundation of the Grandmist Heavenly Mansion's strength differed from that of the Pill Immortal Sect; their reliance was on cultivation methods and various supreme "Spirit Soul Phantom Crystals." Their need for various pills was not particularly urgent, so they naturally would not aggressively compete with other sects to recruit a Rank Nine Medicine King.

It could be said that if Taishu Yan was resolute, that Rank Nine Medicine King named "Tai Shuang" would undoubtedly belong to the Pill Immortal Sect.

And now, the seating arrangement clearly indicated the high regard Taishu Yan held for him.

"Everyone has likely heard of Brother Tai Shuang."

After Nie Kong and Tai Yan were seated, Taishu Yan laughed heartily, "To be able to utilize the 'Heavy Blossom' with such sublime perfection, and to refine an Eighth-Rank pill exceeding ninety-five quality, such strength is truly astonishing even in our Divine Void Realm. However, perhaps you are not yet aware that Brother Tai Shuang is only thirty-five years old this year."

"Thirty-five? So young?"

Not just the external Medicine Kings, but even the dozen or so Medicine Kings from the Pill Immortal Sect were greatly surprised. This detail was being revealed for the first time; cultivating to the peak of the Ninth Rank at the age of thirty-five was an event that had occurred only a handful of times in the entire history of the Divine Void Realm, let alone possessing the status of a "Rank Nine Medicine King."

Nie Kong offered a slight smile, occasionally nodding to the Medicine Kings who looked his way. The age of thirty-five was something Nie Kong had casually mentioned to Luan Yexin that morning, an age that reasonably matched his current appearance.