With a mere thought from Nie Kong, the void around him began to ripple faintly, and wisps of cyan water spiritual energy elements separated and swiftly coalesced before him.

Moments later, the figure of a beautiful woman manifested.

This woman possessed exquisite features, a lovely face, and a tall, graceful figure, voluptuous yet delicately formed. Though merely an illusory projection, she exuded a powerful aura of mature charm.

"Isn't this Elder Yu Longyue of the Fish Clan?" Shui Rou exclaimed after a single glance.

"Indeed, it is Elder Yu," Guixian nodded as well.

"So you all know her? How did she become an Elder of the Sea Clan?"

Nie Kong exchanged a look with Tai Yan, their brows alight with undisguised joy. Since both Shui Rou and Guixian knew Yu Longyue, finding her would be significantly easier.

"At the beginning of this year, when I had an audience with the Sea King, I saw her several times in the 'Abyssal Core Sea,'" Guixian said with a smile. "I heard she had been cultivating in a lake in the southeastern region of the Divine Sky Realm until she arrived at the Immortal Qin Sea only last year. After a spar with Elder Hu of the southeastern sea area, Elder Hu immediately petitioned for her to be granted the position of Elder in the 'Abyssal Core Sea.' This Elder Yu's strength is truly astonishing. Although her cultivation realm remains at the peak of the Ninth Tier, she managed to fight Elder Hu, who has passed the Second Spiritual Tribulation, to a draw. It seems that for us Sea Clan members, tempering in harsh environments accelerates cultivation progress much faster than in the Immortal Qin Sea."

Stroking his beard and musing for a moment, Guixian asked again, "Senior also knows Elder Yu?"

Nie Kong nodded. "Indeed, we do. She once encountered my wife and me in the Continental Shard Belt while searching for the 'Spirit Soul Illusion Crystal.' When we left the Shard Belt this time, we specifically went to visit her, only to hear she had come to the Immortal Qin Sea, which is why we were asking you about her whereabouts. Is she still in the southeastern sea area?"

"No."

Guixian shook his head. "After the audience with the Sea King at the start of the year, it seems she remained in the Abyssal Core Sea; it was apparently at the Sea King's personal invitation."

Nie Kong concluded, "So, if I wish to see her, I must go directly to the Abyssal Core Sea."

"Senior, I'm afraid it will be somewhat difficult for you to see Elder Yu this year," Shui Rou interjected with a sly smile.

"Why is that?" Nie Kong was slightly surprised.

"Senior, it is like this."

Guixian quickly explained, "The Abyssal Core Sea only opens for one month at the beginning of the year when the elders from all sea regions pay respects to the Sea King; normally, it is sealed, and no one can enter."

Pausing slightly, Guixian added, "Unless the Sea King permits it, the Abyssal Core Sea will not reopen. However, since both you and your wife are Spirit Gods, if the Sea King learns that the Sea Clan has new Spirit Gods and he is not in secluded cultivation, he will certainly open the Abyssal Core Sea and summon you both."

Nie Kong could only say, "Then I will trouble Brother Gui to report the situation of my wife and me to the Sea King."

Guixian replied, "Senior need not worry; Shui Rou has already reported this matter to our Sea Clan's 'Grand Divine Minister.' That venerable elder must surely have already sent the message into the Abyssal Core Sea by now. Senior might as well stay in my grotto-abode for now; within two days at most, I will receive a reply from the Abyssal Core Sea."

"Very well."

Nie Kong pondered for a moment before nodding.

It was clear that these powerful Sea Clan experts held immense reverence for that Sea King. If he were to insist on going to the Abyssal Core Sea without waiting for a reply, it would undoubtedly arouse their suspicion. More importantly, there was a Transmigration Illusion Array in this sea region that could save over ten days of travel time.

Seeing Nie Kong agree, Guixian, Shui Rou, and the others were delighted. After a few more words, they led Nie Kong and Tai Yan around for a tour...

Ascending Dragon City, Divine Firmament Peak.

Dozens of figures were gathered within the vast Heaven of Alchemy Palace, yet not a single sound broke the deathly silence.

"Is Nie Kong truly that formidable?"

After a long while, a hoarse, ancient voice finally shattered the tranquility of the palace.

The speaker was an elder seated in the place of honor, his frail, skeletal frame barely concealed beneath a loose black robe, making him resemble a mere pile of bones. Beside him stood two other elders in black robes.

They were all Supreme Elders of the Pill Immortal Sect, having passed the Second Spiritual Tribulation over a hundred years ago, yet they had failed to take that final half-step to advance to the Spirit God realm. For the last century, they had been in secluded cultivation deep within Divine Firmament Peak, never concerning themselves with sect affairs—they hadn't even appeared when the 'Chaos Jade Codex' was stolen previously.

Now that the newly ascended Spirit Gods, Marquis Wu and Zhuang Yu, along with the Sect Master Taishu Yan, were all utterly destroyed, they had no choice but to break their seclusion and take charge of the Pill Immortal Sect's affairs.

"Your disciple speaks not a single falsehood."

Seated directly opposite the Supreme Elders were four men, their expressions listless and their faces etched with exhaustion. Their garments were tattered and ragged, still bearing traces of crimson bloodstains.

These were the four who had fled from the shores of the Immortal Qin Sea.

Leveraging their status as elders of the Pill Immortal Sect, they had continuously used the Transmigration Illusion Arrays of various sects and cities, traveling relentlessly. In just one day, they returned to Ascending Dragon City and were immediately summoned to this Heaven of Alchemy Palace to recount every detail of the events that transpired.

Only then did the gathered figures learn how Taishu Yan and the others had been killed, and they were all deeply shaken.

Back at Majestic Splendor Peak, they had watched with unconcealed resentment as Nie Kong brazenly carried off the 'Chaos Jade Codex.' Therefore, they had been overjoyed to hear Marquis Wu's plan.

They had assumed that with the 'Grand Beginning Divine Water,' coupled with the Spirit God from the 'Primordial Heaven Mansion,' the Pill Immortal Sect could effortlessly subdue Nie Kong and Tai Yan. They never expected the final outcome to be such a crushing defeat for the sect, while Nie Kong extracted the Dharma Aspects of Taishu Yan and Zhuang Yu to consecutively pass through two Spiritual Tribulations.

Marquis Wu and the Original Sage of the Primordial Heaven Mansion were both dead; Nie Kong had certainly taken their Dharma Aspects as well. By refining the Dharma Aspects of two Spirit Gods, Nie Kong might now have passed the final breakthrough and become a Spirit God himself. If that were the case, who in the Divine Sky Realm could stand against him?

One elder could not help but voice his fear: "If Nie Kong is already a Spirit God, plus Tai Yan, that makes two Spirit Gods. If they return seeking revenge, then our Pill Immortal Sect..." At this point, his voice trailed off, but the meaning behind it was perfectly clear.

"..."

A tremor ran through everyone, sending a chill down their spines. If the Pill Immortal Sect's two newly ascended Spirit Gods were gone, and if Nie Kong and Tai Yan decided to strike back, the entire Pill Immortal Sect could face annihilation.

"It should not be that extreme," Luan Yexin shook his head. If Nie Kong and Tai Yan truly intended to wipe them out, those four escaping elders would likely be joining Marquis Wu and the others by now. Nie Kong hadn't even pursued the four of them, clearly showing no interest in destroying the Pill Immortal Sect.

"After that battle, Sea Clan members suddenly intervened. Based on the information they let slip, Nie Kong is very likely of Sea Clan origin. The Sea Clan and our major sects have been sworn enemies for ten millennia; we absolutely cannot let down our guard," the skeletal Supreme Elder reprimanded Luan Yexin before decisively stating, "This matter concerns the life and death of our Pill Immortal Sect. Junior Brothers, we must immediately activate the grand formation and report to the Ancestor of the Heaven of Alchemy."

"Indeed, there should be no delay."

"..."