At this instant, Nie Kong's perception surged manifold. He felt that even the sensory capabilities of a Spirit God could hardly surpass this.
Almost in the blink of an eye, everything in the surrounding heaven and earth materialized in his mind: the leaves outside the pavilion glistening with fine medicinal dew, the earthworms burrowing slowly beneath the soil, Luan Yexin instructing disciples on cultivation not far off—even the valley enveloped by the illusion array on Shenxiu Peak was "seen through" by Nie Kong. The Divine Communication Tower deep within the valley was almost entirely exposed.
Nie Kong was filled with novelty, and his spiritual sense continued to expand outward, encompassing the better half of Shenglong City in a flash.
Innumerable spiritual master auras, both strong and weak, were captured by Nie Kong; the Ninth-Tier powerhouses seemed utterly unaware of the presence of this sliver of his spiritual sense.
"I wonder if Marquis Wu can be found?"
The thought struck him suddenly, and Nie Kong's spiritual sense turned toward Shenxiao Peak in the north of the city, quickly settling around the Qianji Hall. Inside a spacious room on the second floor of the grand hall, Marquis Wu sat motionless on a cushion, like an immutable stone sculpture.
Nie Kong observed the Marquis for a moment, yet there was absolutely no reaction.
He couldn't detect him either!
Nie Kong rejoiced, and his spiritual sense shifted toward the nearby Dantian Palace.
Tai Shuyan is not here?
A flicker of doubt crossed Nie Kong’s mind. He meticulously scanned the Dantian Palace again, still finding no trace of Tai Shuyan; there was no sign of him on Shenxiao Peak, or even throughout the entirety of Shenglong City.
"Could he still be in the secret chamber?"
Returning his spiritual sense to the Qianji Hall, he noted that the passage leading to the secret chamber was now closed.
As his intent shifted, his consciousness fully turned inward, and faintly, Nie Kong sensed a summons originating from beneath the Qianji Hall...
It was the Heavenly Fire from the lower volume of the Chaos Jade Codex—it was calling to him!
Nie Kong’s heart leaped. The ball of white energy within his body suddenly pulsed slightly, and immediately, the illusion array used to suppress the aura in the passage below seemed to disintegrate layer by layer.
Nie Kong’s spiritual sense pierced through the successive doors, swiftly advancing along the thread of the summons.
Tai Shuyan! He really is here!
The moment he reached the secret chamber, Nie Kong saw that familiar figure. At that moment, Tai Shuyan was supporting a highly condensed ball of fire with his right palm, while holding the Chaos Jade Codex in his left hand. Seconds later, Tai Shuyan opened the Jade Codex a crack and pressed the fireball toward it.
He is actually attempting to absorb the Heavenly Fire?
Nie Kong was somewhat astonished. As expected, Tai Shuyan’s attempt soon failed, yet he showed no discouragement or disappointment, continuing to condense fireballs again and again...
Failure! Failure! Failure...
The current Sect Master of the Elixir Immortal Sect was a perfect replica of Nie Kong from the night before.
Watching Tai Shuyan fight on despite repeated failure, Nie Kong couldn't help but be stunned. Did seeing his own success lead Tai Shuyan to see hope, attempting to draw out the Heavenly Fire this way? If this was his intention, all that awaited him, besides disappointment, would surely be more disappointment!
Nie Kong knew clearly that the reason he could absorb the Heavenly Fire from the lower Jade Codex was primarily because he had completely refined the Heavenly Fire from the upper volume, and his ability to refine the upper volume’s fire stemmed from the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire' aura contained within the essence of natural origin power.
The upper volume was not something just anyone could absorb, let alone the lower volume. Otherwise, the Spirit God Hall would not have kept it for so many years after obtaining the Codex?
As his thoughts raced, Nie Kong’s spiritual sense drifted closer to the Jade Codex, and the call of the Heavenly Fire grew more intense. Nie Kong could even clearly feel that the Chaos Jade Codex was currently suffused with a joyful emotion, its flames surging and churning like a tide.
"One last time!"
Tai Shuyan uttered fiercely, pressing the fireball in his hand into the sliver of opening he had just made in the Jade Codex.
Whoosh!
A dense mass of 'Chaos Heavenly Fire' suddenly surged out from the crack, instantly engulfing the fireball and hurtling toward Tai Shuyan’s hand like a splitting axe. The scorching wave of heat seemed capable of burning Dragon Stone itself to ashes.
This sudden turn of events startled Tai Shuyan.
However, Tai Shuyan was a powerhouse who had passed the Second Spiritual Tribulation. As he swiftly retracted his hand, a fiery-red phantom of an animal shot out from his body, surging down his right arm to block the approaching 'Chaos Heavenly Fire.'
Boom!
Tai Shuyan recoiled violently, and at the instant the Jade Codex snapped shut, the Chaos Heavenly Fire swallowed the fireball, and even that fiery-red phantom.
"This fellow's Dharma Image is a Fire Vulture," Nie Kong muttered to himself.
"Haa..."
Picking up the Jade Codex from the ground, Tai Shuyan let out a long breath, his face etched with lingering fear. "Still can't absorb the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire.' Perhaps only Taishuang in the entire Divine Sky Realm can manage it. That’s fine; the moment he refines the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire,' this Sect Master can then refine Taishuang. I will also cultivate the legendary Chaos Divine Power, and the Taizun realm will no longer be just a distant hope!"
As he spoke the latter part, Tai Shuyan’s expression turned grim, his eyes maniacal.
"This bastard is planning that!"
Nie Kong was greatly surprised, but then enlightenment dawned. No wonder he had been so excited upon seeing Nie Kong absorb the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire.' No wonder the Grand Master of the Primordial Heaven Mansion had warned him. It seemed he had long since seen through Tai Shuyan's character.
After a moment of stunned shock, Nie Kong sneered inwardly. Since you harbor ulterior motives, don't blame me for making you lose both the wife and the soldiers, ending up with nothing!
Seeing Tai Shuyan place the Jade Codex back into its box, Nie Kong's spiritual sense quietly retreated.
The 'Chaos Heavenly Fire' seemed to sense Nie Kong's departure, immediately revealing an emotion of reluctance, as if it would leave too if Nie Kong gave the slightest nod. Nie Kong was tempted to try, but with Marquis Wu present in the Qianji Hall, now was not the most opportune moment.
His spiritual sense snapped back, and Nie Kong opened his eyes.
"It’s a blessing I learned of Tai Shuyan's scheme, otherwise, I might have truly been trapped in this Elixir Immortal Sect!" Nie Kong secretly congratulated himself. His thoughts then drifted to the mass of white energy within his body, and a sudden realization struck him: "Could this be the 'Chaos Divine Power' that Tai Shuyan mentioned?"
"Chaos Origin... Chaos Divine Power..."
Nie Kong's spirit lifted. Even this slight bit of power allowed his spiritual sense to elude the perception of a Spirit God like Marquis Wu. If he were to absorb the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire' from the lower volume and fuse all four powers within his body into Chaos Divine Power, what kind of state would that be?
Perhaps, just as Tai Shuyan claimed, one day he could aspire to the Taizun realm!
Not long ago, the Heavenly Spirit Realm was an almost unattainable dream for Nie Kong. But now, Nie Kong had already reached the Ninth Grade of Heavenly Spirit. Not only was the Spirit God realm within reach, but even the Taizun realm was no longer just a legend to him, but a stage highly possible to achieve.
"Tai Shuyan, stop dreaming about Chaos Divine Power. As for Taizun, don't even think about it. I will take care of everything!" A massive surge of heroism swelled in Nie Kong's heart, making him want to laugh aloud to vent his feelings, but in the next instant, a minute fluctuation pulled him back to reality.