Wuhou's voice erupted suddenly.

The instant his voice sounded, Nie Kong had already moved; simultaneously lifting the jade booklet’s cover with his left hand, he pressed his right-hand fireball towards the fissure.

Instantly, the surging heat and the intensely condensed fireball collided.

The expected scene of a violent clash did not materialize; instead, the heat rapidly merged with the fireball. Nie Kong’s heart skipped a beat, and just as he prepared to examine it closely, he realized the incomparably fierce heat was piercing through the fire, bearing down on his right palm, while the Origin Force within his body seemed to answer a summons, pouring wildly toward his palm.

Nie Kong was startled. He hurriedly closed the cover, instantly withdrawing his palm from the fireball. Immediately, the Origin Force in his meridians quieted, but the fireball itself was drawn back into the Chaos Jade Booklet by the heat.

"What is going on?"

Staring at the Chaos Jade Booklet, which had returned to its original state, Nie Kong was bewildered. He knew perfectly well that if he had held onto the fireball for even a moment longer, all his Origin Force would likely have drained into the booklet.

Taishu Yan and Luan Yexin exchanged a glance, both looking puzzled. They had both touched the Chaotic Sky Fire using this method before; while they certainly couldn't absorb or refine it, their own flames remained completely intact. Yet, Nie Kong’s burning fireball had just been devoured by the booklet.

Wuhou kept his eyes closed, frowning in contemplation. "I hadn't expected this method wouldn't work on you. It seems I made things too simple, old man."

"I'll try one more time."

Nie Kong was unwilling to concede, and a ball of flame began to gather above his right palm again...

Shenxiu Peak, the Tower of Divine Communication.

Silence reigned within the tower. Zhan Tianfeng and the others watched Kou Xilai, waiting for him to make the final decision.

Kou Xilai, however, was continuously stroking the emerald green ring on his right thumb. The ring’s surface was etched with extremely fine patterns, clearly marking it as a Talisman Artifact.

After a long pause, the ring burst forth with a green sheen, and a small wooden box, about a foot long, abruptly materialized in his palm.

Kou Xilai's emerald ring was an exceedingly rare and precious Spatial Talisman Artifact.

"It seems I have no choice but to send this out." Gazing at the wooden box, Kou Xilai sighed deeply, his face filled with helplessness. Yet, his expression immediately contorted into something savage. "This is all that damned Nie Kong’s fault!"

"That box must contain the upper portion of the Chaos Jade Booklet!"

Outside the tower door, Tai Yan muttered secretly. The little creature beside her suddenly tilted its small flower bud and knocked rapidly three times on her 'Gazing Back Flower.'

This was the signal to move! They had agreed upon it before leaving!

Tai Yan hesitated for no moment. Her petite, exquisite body suddenly transformed into a mass of blood-red mist, which slammed into the thick tower door with a loud boom, shattering it.

"Who?"

Everyone inside the tower started in shock. Kou Xilai reacted swiftly; the ring flashed green once more, and the wooden box was immediately drawn back into the Spatial Talisman Artifact.

Seeing the red light flickering at the doorway, Kou Xilai snarled, his face dark, "Which friend from the Pill Immortal Sect honors us with a visit?"

Zhan Tianfeng spoke almost simultaneously, "Friends need not rush—we have already decided to agree to your sect's terms, exchanging it for the jade booklet!"

"..."

This valley was a secret location specifically prepared for them by the Pill Immortal Sect, and the Pill Immortal Sect was the most powerful sect in the Divine Void Realm. External enemies could hardly invade this place. Now, immediately after they had produced that item, this incident occurred. Kou Xilai and the others reflexively linked the intruders with the Pill Immortal Sect.

However, they were all utterly mistaken.

The moment Kou Xilai and Zhan Tianfeng spoke, the blood-red aura surged in through the broken doorway, instantly enveloping them.

"Friends, please do not act! We..." Zhan Tianfeng’s face changed drastically.

"Whoosh!"

Just then, Zhan Tianfeng suddenly saw a small purple shadow flash before his eyes, followed by an arrow-like streak of dark red sword light charging toward him with lightning speed.

Zhan Tianfeng tried to dodge but suddenly found his body bound by the blood mist, his expression turning ghastly with horror.

"Ah!"

The piercing scream lasted only halfway before Zhan Tianfeng’s body was slashed diagonally into two halves by the sword light, his viscera scattering across the floor. The gruesome fate of their companion instantly jolted the surrounding crowd awake. Any lingering trace of false hope was shattered, but they dared not feel anger; their minds were completely flooded with terror.

Ye Haoran cried out, terror mixed with shock, "The Pill Immortal Sect is shameless, trying to murder us to seize it by force, ah..." The rest of his words never left his throat before turning into a shriek as that small purple figure raised the massive, dark-red longsword and instantly decapitated him.

"It’s not the Pill Immortal Sect! He’s here, that bastard is here..." Kou Xilai suddenly roared madly. "Everyone, rush out! This is that Flower Spirit accompanying Nie Kong!"

"Nie Kong! It is Nie Kong! He has chased us to the Divine Peace Realm!"

"..."

The remaining few descended into utter chaos, crying out incessantly.

"Hee hee, you finally recognize me."

The blood mist churned violently, trapping the figures desperately charging toward the exit, making movement difficult for every one of them. The little creature, like a bloodthirsty little demon, excitedly raised the manifestation of the Blood Prison Sword King Tree and hacked away with one sword stroke after another. Screams followed one after another...

Divine Firmament Peak, the underground secret chamber of the Thousand Mechanisms Hall.

"Bad! Someone has breached Shenxiu Peak! They are taking action!" Wuhou and Taishu Yan sensed it almost simultaneously, their expressions changing instantly.

"How dare they cause trouble in my Pill Immortal Sect!"

Wuhou surged like an enraged tiger, his killing intent boiling. He was about to leave but suddenly paused. "Sect Master, you go check it out first."

Taishu Yan seemed to understand Wuhou’s hesitation, his face grim. "Martial Uncle, I will go immediately." He glanced at Nie Kong, who was still condensing his fireball, then his figure vanished abruptly.

"What's wrong?"

Nie Kong seemed to wake from a dream, looking questioningly at Wuhou and Luan Yexin.

Luan Yexin smiled lightly. "Nothing, just some reckless thief who has stumbled into Shenxiu Peak, probably trying to fish for some good items before tomorrow’s Pill Exhibition. The Sect Master has already rushed over; that person absolutely won't escape Shenxiu Peak, nor will they leave Ascending Dragon City."

As she spoke, her demeanor was quite relaxed. Following Wuhou and Taishu Yan, she too had sensed the fluctuation of energy from Shenxiu Peak. The Pill Immortal Sect had strong experts galore; that person could not flee even if they had wings.

"There are truly some who are unafraid to die."

Nie Kong looked incredulous. He glanced at the fireball he had just finished condensing in his palm, then slowly absorbed it back into his body, before looking toward Wuhou again. Wuhou’s face was expressionless now, but Nie Kong could sense a furious rage simmering beneath his calm exterior, like a tiger whose backside had been touched.

Nie Kong stood up and smiled, "I will try absorbing the Sky Fire another time. It might be better to go to Shenxiu Peak now and see for myself. I’d like to witness this audacious fellow."

"Very well!"

Luan Yexin glanced at Wuhou, nodded, and said, "Martial Uncle, I will take Brother Tai Shuang to Shenxiu Peak first." The two moved with incredible speed, reaching the Thousand Mechanisms Hall in the blink of an eye.

Faintly, Nie Kong could hear the sound of the main gate closing beneath his feet. He chuckled inwardly; the old man staying behind in the end probably feared that Nie Kong might take advantage of the chaos to make a move. Nie Kong had indeed considered that if both Wuhou and Taishu Yan left, he would try to secretly stuff the Chaos Jade Booklet into his satchel while Luan Yexin was distracted.

If he succeeded, he could immediately flee Ascending Dragon City. Although it meant facing the Pill Immortal Sect’s relentless pursuit, it would have been worth it. But with Wuhou remaining, Nie Kong had to abandon that rather tempting idea.