Nie Kong’s mind stirred slightly, and the primal power within his Pet Backpack began to burn. The heat condensed without dispersing, gathering into a small fireball.
The primal power flowed ceaselessly, and the fireball gradually grew larger.
Much like in the underground chamber beneath the Qianji Hall, after about fifteen minutes, Nie Kong finally paused, then cautiously cracked the Jade Scroll open just a sliver.
The fireball instantly lunged toward it!
“Boom!”
Completely unlike when it contacted the lower section of the Jade Scroll, a tremendous roar echoed within the Pet Backpack. The usually gentle “Chaos Heavenly Fire” seemed to be strongly attracted, suddenly surging madly into the fireball, much like a taut balloon that has been pricked.
Nie Kong reacted swiftly, hastily closing the Jade Scroll.
The connection between the fireball and the Jade Scroll was abruptly severed, but in that brief instant, the fireball had already filled with a heat intensity countless times stronger emanating from the “Chaos Heavenly Fire.”
Nie Kong concentrated his senses.
When the Heavenly Fire from the lower scroll appeared, it would devour his primal power. However, the Heavenly Fire from the upper scroll was not only non-aggressive but was actually attracted to his primal power.
“This ‘Chaos Heavenly Fire’ from the upper Jade Scroll should be easier to absorb.”
Comparing the two scrolls, Nie Kong’s mind instantly became active. His Spiritual Aperture shuddered violently, and the “Yin-Yang Spirit Devouring Art” began to circulate.
Vast primal power surged and channeled rapidly between the aperture and the meridians…
A trace of “Chaos Heavenly Fire” was easily drawn out by Nie Kong from the fireball, then it began to spread along the thread of power within the Pet Backpack.
At this moment, a peculiar scene unfolded.
Wherever the Heavenly Fire passed, the nearly transparent primal power was dyed crimson, as if the primal power were a conduit, and the Heavenly Fire was the blazing red ** flowing within that channel.
“Ah-ya-ya?” The little creature also noticed the anomaly, shaking its roots to slip out from the source of the backpack, crying out in a mixture of confusion and astonishment.
“…”
Nie Kong offered the little creature no response; his heart was filled with elation.
Although he hadn't truly absorbed and refined this wisp of “Chaos Heavenly Fire” yet, its flow allowed Nie Kong to experience a marvelous sensation of seamless integration. The primal power of his own body and the heat emanating from the Heavenly Fire were subtly showing signs of merging.
Forcibly calming his fluctuating emotions, the moment that wisp of Heavenly Fire entered the aperture, Nie Kong’s “Yin-Yang Spirit Devouring Art” operated at its peak efficiency.
Within the Spiritual Aperture, the twenty pairs of minor apertures rotated at an unprecedented speed.
That thread of “Chaos Heavenly Fire” continuously passed through pair after pair of minor apertures. In this process, minuscule amounts of Heavenly Fire would occasionally spiral out and fuse with the surrounding primal power. After only a few seconds, even the last trace of the subtle Heavenly Fire completely merged into the primal power.
It truly could be absorbed easily!
This trial greatly boosted Nie Kong’s confidence. The “Chaos Heavenly Fire” began to pour out from the Pet Backpack, like silken threads, endlessly.
West of Shenglong City, within an elegant courtyard, candlelight blazed brightly.
“What?”
Tie Feng, the Sect Master of the Xinyi Sect, sprang up, his pair of eyes, large as copper bells, fixed on Luan Yexin opposite him. His sharply chiseled face was etched with shock.
The few others nearby exchanged glances, disbelief written plainly on their faces.
The sects neighboring the Danxian Sect had always enjoyed good relations. The Pavilion Master of Lingxiao Heavenly Sword Pavilion, the Master of Baihua Mountain, the Sect Master of Xuanying Sect, and Tie Feng, among others, happened to be gathered together this evening to discuss which elixirs to purchase at tomorrow’s “Dan Gong Immortal Gathering,” when Luan Yexin arrived seeking an audience.
Then, they learned a startling piece of news from Luan Yexin.
Sometime tonight, the fellow who had caused trouble at the Lingxiao Heavenly Sword Pavilion and the various other sects had broken into Shenxiu Peak, slaughtered many people there, and then vanished without a trace. Although Tie Feng and the others had speculated that the person had come to Shenglong City, they never expected him to actually dare strike against the Danxian Sect.
Even more astonishing was that after taking action, he had managed to escape from under the noses of so many powerful figures.
Seeing the expressions on Tie Feng and the others’ faces, Luan Yexin remained outwardly calm, though she inwardly managed a bitter smile. The matter was indeed somewhat humiliating, but even if she didn't mention it now, the entire Shenglong City would be buzzing about it by tomorrow: “Everyone, I have come here to ask for your guidance on a few questions regarding that person.”
“Elder Luan, please ask,” the others replied in unison after regaining their composure.
“…”
Within Shenglong City, the hustle and bustle continued as usual, seemingly unaffected by the carnage at Shenxiu Peak—but this was merely an illusion.
Although Marquis Wu suspected the culprit had left Shenglong City, the powerful experts of the Danxian Sect, like Taishu Yan, had not completely given up hope.
Simultaneously, they worried that the individual possessing Spiritual Aperture power might suddenly launch a surprise counterattack, so the search operations had not ceased. The city and the dozen or so surrounding mountains were sealed off by waves of powerful spiritual senses, creating an inescapable net covering tens of miles.
Noticing this situation, the outer sect powerhouses within the city were greatly alarmed, desperately wanting to know what had transpired to cause the Danxian Sect experts to mobilize on such a grand scale. However, to avoid misunderstandings from the Danxian Sect, everyone refrained from releasing their spiritual senses to probe.
It was not until dawn that everyone finally realized the truth: someone had infiltrated Shenxiu Peak last night, killing several people from the Danxian Sect, and the perpetrator had used the extremely rare illusionary technique known as the “Blood Prison Sword King Tree.”
Instantly, the seemingly tranquil surface of Shenglong City was stirred into massive waves, and news began to spread rapidly throughout the Shenkong Realm…
Zhaohua Manor.
Inside the pavilion, Tai Yan, clad in fiery red, sat cross-legged in quiet meditation. All night, Tai Yan had been sensing the small life form within her body, guiding it to absorb the remnant power deep within the flower stamen. As if recalling something joyous, sweet smiles frequently bloomed on her delicate, fair face.
Opposite Tai Yan, Nie Kong also sat cross-legged.
After refining and absorbing the wisp of “Chaos Heavenly Fire” from the fireball, Nie Kong reopened the “Chaos Jade Scroll” and lured out a small portion of the Heavenly Fire from it again, then continued refining.
In ceaseless cycles, Nie Kong remained immersed in the process, finding endless delight, completely unaware of the passage of time.
After an unknown period, Nie Kong was abruptly jolted from his cultivation by a burst of footsteps accompanied by a powerful aura approaching his residence.
Peak Ninth Rank Illusory Spirit Master!
That fellow! The trace of vigilance that had just surfaced in Nie Kong’s mind was suppressed, and he sighed with a touch of resignation, abandoning the idea of opening the Jade Scroll again to lure out the “Chaos Heavenly Fire.” The burning fireball instantly extinguished, and Nie Kong’s primal power swiftly withdrew from the Pet Backpack, returning to his body.
Opening his eyes, Nie Kong realized the sky outside was already bright.
“Brother, I’ll go open the door.”
Tai Yan also opened her beautiful eyes, leaping up from the ground and running toward the door, her entire being brimming with cheerful energy, as if she had encountered some great joy.