"Senior Brother."

After seeing Nie Kong and Tai Yan off outside the hall, Luan Yexin immediately returned, and in a flash, her graceful figure appeared before Taishu Yan.

Taishu Yan inquired, "Junior Sister Luan, any harvest?"

"None."

Luan Yexin offered a slight, wry smile. "That Tai Yan is indeed innocent and pure-hearted; she speaks her mind plainly, but I didn't glean any valuable information. Moreover, just now, I took the opportunity to scan her body; she is truly just an ordinary woman."

She paused, a hint of doubt coloring her next words, "Senior Brother... are you certain your feeling is correct?"

"Perhaps."

Taishu Yan’s brow furrowed slightly.

Silence settled in the room for a brief moment before Luan Yexin spoke again, "Senior Brother, what about Tai Shuang? Any anomalies?"

"None," Taishu Yan shook his head lightly. "When he heard that our Danxian Sect possessed the 'Chaos Jade Tome' for storing Heavenly Fire, he was genuinely astonished; it couldn't have been faked. It seems his sudden decision to participate in the assessment truly stemmed from interest in the 'Dan Palace Immortal Meet,' and not from plotting to steal the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire.'"

Luan Yexin sighed in relief, chuckling, "Then we can confidently let him join our Danxian Sect?"

"Hmm." Taishu Yan let out a soft snort. "This Tai Shuang is quite interesting. After hearing my intention for him to absorb and refine Heavenly Fire, he actually managed to restrain himself and not immediately agree to join the Danxian Sect, saying he needed to consider it."

Luan Yexin’s lips curved slightly. "Senior Brother, doesn't that just prove his sincerity? If he had ulterior motives, he would have certainly given you an affirmative answer right away."

"That's true, but we can't entirely rule out the possibility that he’s playing hard to get," Taishu Yan chuckled, then added, "For safety’s sake, we still need to ask Martial Uncle Wuhou to search Tai Shuang's memory. Yes, let’s set the time for the night after tomorrow. That 'Chaos Jade Tome' is our sect’s most prized treasure; we absolutely cannot let someone with ill intentions toward the Danxian Sect absorb the Heavenly Fire."

"If that's the case, then we truly have nothing more to worry about..."

The "Dan Palace Immortal Meet" would only resume in the afternoon, so Nie Kong and Tai Yan wandered casually through Shenxiu Peak, gradually drawing closer to the summit.

They encountered many Danxian Sect disciples along the way, but none of them stopped the pair.

It seemed that apart from the valley where the Tong Shen Tower was being constructed, there were currently no forbidden grounds on Shenxiu Peak for the Danxian Sect. This made sense; the next two days were dedicated to the medicine exhibition phase of the "Dan Palace Immortal Meet," during which any Illusion Master could enter the Danxian Sect.

Wandering into a secluded spot, the little one who had been waiting sprang out and darted into Nie Kong's spiritual aperture the moment the chance arose.

"Oh, right, Brother, I almost forgot to tell you—Elder Luan also tested me just now," Tai Yan suddenly whispered close to Nie Kong's ear, her voice like a mosquito's buzz.

"Oh? How did she test you?"

Nie Kong’s heart stirred, his lips barely moving as his voice drifted into Tai Yan’s ear like fine silk.

Tai Yan giggled, "She used her Dharma Aspect power to sweep through my body twice. All my power hid inside the stamen, and she didn't notice a thing."

"That's good then."

Nie Kong nodded, though a nagging uneasiness settled in his heart. Since the Danxian Sect arranged for Luan Yexin to test Tai Yan, they clearly weren't entirely trusting of her. If interrogation yielded nothing and probing found nothing, what methods would the Danxian Sect use next to uncover their true backgrounds?

Soul searching, memory probing?

The thought surfaced in Nie Kong's mind almost reflexively. For powerful individuals, this was the optimal way to obtain accurate information. Naturally, this tactic only succeeded under two conditions: first, if the disparity in strength between the two parties was immense, allowing for forceful memory extraction; or second, if the other party cooperated fully without resistance.

As the largest sect in the Shenkong Realm, second only to the Hongmeng Heavenly Palace, the Danxian Sect might possess other miraculous means.

Nie Kong's mind raced, and vigilance sparked within him.

"Brother, look at that valley."

Tai Yan pointed toward a depression dozens of meters away. Mist shrouded the area, obscuring the trees within, resembling an ethereal celestial realm—incredibly beautiful. This was precisely where Kou Xilai and the others were hiding.

Nie Kong nodded, and a bold idea bloomed in his mind: perhaps he could charge into the valley right now, strike down Kou Xilai and his companions with lightning speed, and possibly escape the Danxian Sect before they could react. Once outside Shenglong City, he could immediately disappear into hiding. With his methods of concealing aura, even the two Spirit Gods of the Danxian Sect might not detect them.

Tai Yan's words had sounded an alarm bell for Nie Kong. If he waited any longer, the situation might spiral into unforeseen complications. Acting now, though risky, offered a very high probability of a successful escape afterward. This notion surged uncontrollably in Nie Kong’s mind.

In the next instant, Nie Kong suddenly drew Tai Yan into an embrace, pressing his lips close to her ear.

Unaware that Nie Kong was using the posture to conceal his true intentions and avoid arousing suspicion by being seen, Tai Yan mistakenly thought he wished for intimacy right there. Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her brow filled with pleasure, and a faint flush of excitement painted her pale cheeks, making her exceptionally alluring.

"Brother Tai Shuang, Sister Tai Yan..."

Just as Nie Kong prepared to share his plan, a crisp, delicate voice suddenly drifted from not far away.

Luan Yexin!

Nie Kong cursed inwardly and hastily raised his head.

"My apologies, it seems I've come at an inopportune time," Luan Yexin said, smiling faintly as she observed the pair embracing, yet her eyes held a vivid interest, utterly lacking in true apology. This made Tai Yan glare at her with a hint of displeasure, her chubby cheeks puffing out adorably.

"Not at all, Elder Luan, did you need us for something?" Nie Kong released Tai Yan with a smile.

"It's like this—the afternoon session of the Dan Palace Immortal Meet is beginning. The Sect Master asked me to call you over." Luan Yexin explained.

"Very well, we'll head over now." Taking Tai Yan's small hand, Nie Kong walked toward Luan Yexin, a thread of curiosity in his voice. "How did Sect Master Taishu know we were here, Sister and Brother?"

"Senior Brother's cultivation pierces the heavens; nothing that happens on Shenxiu Peak can escape his notice," Luan Yexin replied with a bright, charming smile.

"..."

Nie Kong’s heart skipped a beat, and a sudden realization struck him: he had been thinking too simply. Had Luan Yexin not interrupted, and had he chosen to act immediately, the moment he forcibly broke through the valley's illusion formation, Taishu Yan and the two Spirit Gods of the Danxian Sect would have surely noticed. In the end, he wouldn't have managed to kill Kou Xilai and the others, but he and Tai Yan would have been trapped like turtles in a jar.

Indeed, impulse is the devil!

Nie Kong secretly felt fortunate. He had still underestimated the strong cultivators of the Danxian Sect, especially Taishu Yan—he was extremely cautious and meticulous. Now it seemed achieving his goal required abandoning recklessness; his initial plan needed modification. Perhaps the wiser course was to first join the Danxian Sect, earn Taishu Yan’s trust in the shortest time possible, and then find an opportunity to enter that illusion-sealed valley openly.

'At that time, a sudden strike would catch them completely off guard,' Nie Kong mused slowly as he walked behind, while in front of him, Luan Yexin was already coaxing Tai Yan back into a cheerful smile.