Through continuous experimentation, all nine-grade elixir formulas had been perfected and confirmed. The final tally included thirty-six finished pills, among them Nie Kong's "Nine-Bend Spirit-Severing Pill." Of course, nearly half of these were below ninety in quality, with only two exceeding that mark, both refined by Tai Shu Yan.

As night enveloped the area, most of the Medicine Kings had departed. Following Nie Kong's instructions, Tai Yan had gone off to wander in Shenglong City, even taking Luan Ye Xin’s two female disciples, Yu Lian Xiu and Hua Fei Fei, along with him.

At this juncture, Nie Kong, accompanied by Tai Shu Yan and Luan Ye Xin, arrived at Shenxiao Peak.

The mountain path was flanked by lush, captivating greenery. Nie Kong appeared relaxed, casually observing his surroundings and occasionally exchanging a few words with the masked figure beside him, yet his heart was already alert.

The instant he stepped onto Shenmou Peak, he acutely sensed an immense aura.

That aura was like a vast ocean; it seemed a single ripple could shatter a person to dust. The owner of this presence was undoubtedly a Spirit God.

Nie Kong was not unfamiliar with an aura of this magnitude.

Before he left the Underworld, he had experienced it several times—War Heart Child of the War Clan, Bai Lian of the Spirit Venerable Hall—they were all Spirit God powerhouses.

"It seems he is the Martial Marquis that Tai Shu Yan and Luan Ye Xin mentioned!"

Nie Kong's thoughts raced, and he deduced the person's identity. Judging by the aura alone, the newly advanced Martial Marquis seemed slightly weaker than War Heart Child from the Underworld. Of course, this was relative; compared to him, a Heavenly Spirit Master, the Marquis was still considerably stronger.

The Martial Marquis's appearance on Shenxiao Peak might not be as simple as mere curiosity about him, as they had claimed.

Perhaps it was a final confirmation of his background!

Nie Kong pondered inwardly. However, regardless of the Dan Xian Sect's true objective, one thing was certain: they would not rashly attempt to take his life.

Ten minutes later, the trio arrived halfway up the mountain.

A simple, ancient house came into Nie Kong's view. The interior was brightly lit, shining through the windows, and the aura he sensed originated from within.

"Brother Tai Shuang, this is it. Martial Marquis Uncle is inside."

Tai Shu Yan turned, smiling, and strode toward the room first.

Nie Kong did not hesitate, following close behind. Just as Tai Shu Yan pushed open the door, a short, thin figure seated on a meditation cushion instantly appeared in his sight.

It was a black-robed elder, his skin pale, yet his face was a roadmap of deep furrows, etched with the vicissitudes of age.

"Martial Marquis!"

The two words sprang into Nie Kong's mind as a reflex.

The old man, when standing, probably only reached Nie Kong’s chest. Though Nie Kong was looking down at him from a superior height at this moment, the first instant he saw the Martial Marquis, Nie Kong felt an exceptionally strange sensation, as if he were the small one, and the Martial Marquis stood above him like a deity.

"Martial Marquis Uncle, Brother Tai Shuang has arrived," Tai Shu Yan and Luan Ye Xin bowed in unison.

"Junior Tai Shuang greets Senior Martial Marquis," Nie Kong also saluted slightly.

"Sit."

The Martial Marquis's voice was hoarse, his eyes closed. He pointed to the three cushion mats before him. Only when he spoke did the bizarre feeling Nie Kong had experienced suddenly vanish, as if it had never existed.

Nie Kong drew a quiet breath and sat down successively with Tai Shu Yan and Luan Ye Xin.

"Tai Shuang, I am aware of your situation. It is truly rare to reach the peak of the Ninth Rank at your age and to have mastered both the 'Hundred Layers of Flowers' and 'Thousand Waves' refinement techniques. Especially the aura of the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire' contained within your Dharma Image power, that is most precious."

The Martial Marquis kept his eyes shut. "My Dan Xian Sect yearns for talent. I believe the Sect Master has already explained: as long as you join the Dan Xian Sect, we will allow you to attempt to absorb the Heavenly Fire within the 'Chaos Jade Scroll.' Furthermore, upon joining, you will be an elder of Shenxiu Peak, just like Ye Xin."

He paused, then added, "Are you satisfied with such terms?"

"This..."

Nie Kong frowned slightly. Judging by the Martial Marquis's tone, he seemed to expect an immediate agreement to join the Dan Xian Sect. Although that was also Nie Kong's eventual goal, the Marquis’s current demeanor contradicted what Luan Ye Xin had promised in front of Dan Xian Hall that afternoon.

"Hmm?"

Seemingly noticing Nie Kong's hesitation, the Martial Marquis snorted lightly, as if two sharp gazes pierced his thin eyelids, landing on Nie Kong. Instantly, a powerful sense of pressure surged out, crashing down upon him like tidal waves, nearly suffocating him.

Seeing this, Tai Shu Yan quickly said with a smile, "Martial Marquis Uncle, please do not be angry. It is just that Brother Tai Shuang wishes to examine the 'Chaos Jade Scroll' first. Currently, the 'Primordial Heaven Mansion' is also very interested in Brother Tai Shuang, and they have promised to assist him in achieving the Spirit God realm with the 'Primordial Heaven Tome.'"

"Primordial Heaven Mansion?"

The Martial Marquis's white eyebrows lifted. He snorted heavily again, sounding deeply displeased with the "Primordial Heaven Mansion." However, that immense pressure retreated completely like the tide. "No wonder you are dragging your feet about joining the Dan Xian Sect; it turns out those fellows from the 'Primordial Heaven Mansion' are causing trouble! I cannot entirely blame you; the 'Primordial Heaven Tome' is indeed a marvelous ultimate treasure. It is understandable that you would waver between the Dan Xian Sect and the Primordial Heaven Mansion."

Nie Kong felt his body lighten and subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

This was a show of dominance!

Nie Kong suddenly understood. The Martial Marquis and Tai Shu Yan were playing the good cop, bad cop routine—one red face, one white face—just to give him a warning. He surely knew everything about the "Primordial Heaven Mansion." He inwardly scoffed, then looked at the Martial Marquis opposite him and suddenly broke into a smile. "Senior Martial Marquis is truly miraculous. A Spirit God is a Spirit God; I suppose one sneeze could crush a little fellow like me who has only cultivated for thirty-five years."

There was a subtle edge of sarcasm in his words. Tai Shu Yan started slightly, while Luan Ye Xin kept signaling frantically at Nie Kong, seemingly urging him not to provoke the Martial Marquis.

Nie Kong paid little heed. He absolutely did not believe the Martial Marquis would flip out over such a remark; moreover, even if it came to that, he had means of self-preservation.

The Martial Marquis's cheek twitched, as if he hadn't heard Nie Kong's jab. He said gravely, "Tai Shuang, do you truly wish to view the 'Chaos Jade Scroll' right now?"

"If Senior Martial Marquis does not mind."

"Good! Look into my eyes!"

Nie Kong focused his gaze, only to see the Martial Marquis’s tightly closed eyelids suddenly snap open, revealing a pair of bright eyes as clear as ancient flames and as dazzling as the stars.

He wasn't blind after all!

The thought flashed through Nie Kong's mind just as those eyes turned incredibly profound, resembling two infinitely deep black holes. Two strange forces of attraction shot out from them. Nie Kong's eyes were instantly captivated, feeling as if his very soul was about to be ripped from his body and sucked into those black holes.

Not good—the Martial Marquis truly intended to search the memories within his soul!