The Tower of Divine Ascension fell silent, and the little fellow quietly retreated toward the valley's edge.
By then, the luncheon was drawing to a close.
Nie Kong collected his thoughts and glanced to his side, just in time to see Luan Ye Xin taking her leave. A fleeting shadow of disappointment crossed her delicate features.
In contrast, Tai Yan, lost in some delightful reverie, had her beautiful eyes curved into crescents.
Nearly another quarter of an hour passed before the midday feast finally concluded.
Those dozen or so Medicine Kings from the outer sects were quite familiar with the Medicine Kings of the Dan Xian Sect. They began to depart in small clusters. Nie Kong and Tai Yan were also preparing to rise and leave, looking for an opportunity to retrieve the little fellow.
“Brother Tai Shuang, please wait a moment.”
The graceful figure of Ji Ye Xin suddenly materialized before Nie Kong and Tai Yan. With a charming smile, she said, “Brother Tai Shuang, the Sect Master wishes to see you.”
“Oh? Where?” Nie Kong asked with a smile, having anticipated this; it was only a matter of time. However, glancing around, he realized that Tai Shu Yan had disappeared from the hall unnoticed.
Luan Ye Xin pointed toward a side door of the hall: “Just through there.”
“Very well, I’ll go immediately.”
Nie Kong nodded and turned to leave. Tai Yan started to follow, but Luan Ye Xin quickly pulled her back, smiling faintly. “Sister Tai Yan, why don't you stay here and keep me company for a while?”
“No, I have to follow Brother,” Tai Yan instinctively shook her head.
“Don't worry, the Sect Master only wants to discuss something briefly with Brother Tai Shuang; he won’t eat him. He’ll be back soon enough,” Luan Ye Xin quickly reassured her.
“That’s right, little sister, wait for me here.” Nie Kong gently squeezed Tai Yan’s fair, tender hand. Seeing that he had also spoken, Tai Yan could only reply with a pout, “Brother, you must come out quickly then.”
Luan Ye Xin couldn't help but smile. This sister was truly attached to her brother. Yet, they weren't biological siblings; they were husband and wife. After learning this news from her disciple Yu Lian Xiu that morning, she had found it utterly incredible: a Ninth-Rank powerhouse marrying an ordinary person as his wife, and with such deep affection?
Such a thing was exceedingly hard to believe.
Undeniably, she was a peerlessly beautiful woman, but ordinary people lived perhaps just over a hundred years, whereas a Ninth-Rank powerhouse could live for centuries. When her beauty faded and her hair turned white, would a Ninth-Rank powerhouse still remain devoted to her when she became wrinkled and frail?
After Nie Kong’s figure vanished through the side door, Luan Ye Xin snapped back to the present. Recalling the Sect Master’s instructions from earlier, a thought sparked in her mind, and she smiled as she gently pulled Tai Yan down to sit…
Behind the side door was a winding, twisting corridor.
At the end of the corridor were stairs that actually connected to the second floor of the Dan Xian Hall. Seeing no other structures nearby, Nie Kong proceeded directly down the corridor.
In less than a minute, Nie Kong stepped over the final stair, pushed the door open, and entered.
In a room exquisitely and elegantly furnished, Tai Shu Yan sat cross-legged on a futon, his brow furrowed slightly. He stroked his long beard with his right hand, seemingly contemplating some difficult problem. When Nie Kong entered, Tai Shu Yan’s face broke into a wide smile. He pointed to the futon opposite him: “Brother Tai Shuang, you’ve arrived. Please, sit.”
“Sect Master called me here; may I ask what this is about?” Nie Kong asked, sitting down opposite him with a casual laugh.
“Brother Tai Shuang, have you ever heard of the Chaos Heavenly Fire?” Tai Shu Yan casually tucked his sleeves, his smile warm, asking as if the matter were of little importance.
“Chaos Heavenly Fire?”
Nie Kong paused, then replied, “I have indeed heard of it.”
Nie Kong had first learned about the “Chaos Heavenly Fire” from You Li, the Grand Sect Master of the Lie Xian Sect. Later, when he was at the Ling Fu, he had questioned her in detail. It was said that in the Ling Shen Hall, there were talisman artifacts passed down from the Illusory Spirit Era that stored this very “Chaos Heavenly Fire.”
However, when they later destroyed the Ling Shen Hall, they hadn't found that talisman artifact; it must have been taken to the Divine Sky Realm by Kou Xi Lai and the others. Now that Tai Shu Yan suddenly brought up this topic, Nie Kong wondered what scheme was afoot.
Ah, I see!
In a flash of thought, Nie Kong understood. He then laughed, “I once heard someone mention that the aura of my flames contained the breath of the ‘Chaos Heavenly Fire.’ It seems my little secret was discovered by Elder Luan during the assessment for refining the ‘Hibiscus Falling Petal Pill’ that day. Is the Sect Master looking for me because of this?”
“Precisely.”
Tai Shu Yan nodded. “In my Dan Xian Sect, we possess a talisman artifact nearly two thousand years old, the ‘Chaos Jade Scroll,’ which seals a vast amount of ‘Chaos Heavenly Fire!’” As he spoke the last part, Tai Shu Yan’s gaze suddenly became exceptionally profound, as if he could peer directly into a person's heart.
“Ah?”
Nie Kong failed to notice the change in Tai Shu Yan’s expression and let out a surprised exclamation. That “Chaos Jade Scroll” was almost two thousand years old? That would mean it came into existence shortly after humans first appeared on the Illusory Spirit Continent! Its value might far surpass that artifact from the Ling Shen Hall.
A trace of imperceptible doubt flickered in Tai Shu Yan’s eyes, which then fixed intently on Nie Kong: “Brother Tai Shuang, the aura of your flames possesses the breath of the ‘Chaos Heavenly Fire.’ If you were to absorb and refine the Heavenly Fire within the Jade Scroll, even just a portion of it, your flames could evolve into the true ‘Chaos Heavenly Fire.’ Possessing the ‘Chaos Heavenly Fire’ would allow you to easily refine Tenth-Grade pills, and even Divine-Grade pills suitable for powerhouses at the peak of the Spirit God realm.”
“That powerful?”
Nie Kong immediately grew excited, but the moment the words left his mouth, he realized the implication behind Tai Shu Yan’s statement. He calmed himself and said, “The ‘Chaos Heavenly Fire’ is immensely precious. Sect Master Tai Shu, if I were to absorb the Heavenly Fire from the ‘Chaos Jade Scroll,’ what price would I need to pay?”
Tai Shu Yan looked at Nie Kong with satisfaction and smiled faintly, “You only need to join the Dan Xian Sect.”
“It’s that simple?” Nie Kong was quite surprised.
“It is that simple!” Tai Shu Yan repeated, his tone firm and affirmative.
Nie Kong hesitated: “Sect Master Tai Shu, could you give me some time to consider? I am naturally quite indolent and dislike being constrained. Once I join the Dan Xian Sect, there will undoubtedly be many restrictions, so…”
Tai Shu Yan waved his hand grandly: “No problem. I will give you time to think it over, but you must give me an answer before the ‘Dan Gong Immortal Assembly’ concludes.”
“……………”
A moment later, Nie Kong left the second floor of the Dan Xian Hall under Tai Shu Yan’s watchful gaze.
Walking down the corridor, Tai Shu Yan’s words echoed in Nie Kong’s mind. He secretly felt a twinge of regret. For him, the temptation of the “Chaos Heavenly Fire” within the “Chaos Jade Scroll” was indeed enormous. If he were truly a human native to the Divine Sky Realm, he would undoubtedly agree to join the Dan Xian Sect without hesitation.
This “Dan Gong Immortal Assembly” lasted for three days. Before it ended, Nie Kong would certainly give Tai Shu Yan an affirmative answer to facilitate his movements. However, once Nie Kong dealt with Kou Xi Lai and the others, it would be absolutely impossible for him to remain in the Dan Xian Sect; he might even face relentless pursuit from them.
If only he knew where the “Chaos Jade Scroll” was kept! If there were an opportunity, he could perhaps have Xiang Xiang sneak in and steal it.
Of course, the chances of that were slim.
Unconsciously, Nie Kong returned to the hall where the luncheon had been held. Tai Yan had been frequently looking out. The moment she saw him, her pretty face instantly bloomed into a smile. She left Luan Ye Xin behind and rushed happily toward him.