"Nie Kong, you still have such a treasure on you?" The "Azure Dome" Heart Manifestation that Yu Longyue had transformed into emerged halfway from Nie Kong's chest, his eyes full of pleasant surprise. "Brother Ah Brother, this thing is amazing!

Did Ancestor Mu give it to you?" Tai Yan's "Gazing Flower" also popped out. "Nie Kong, you should have brought this out sooner." "..." Qing You and Hu Lu Xing cheered excitedly, their faces animated with delight.

Even Xiang Xiang wriggled out of Nie Kong's body, and Lan Ling stretched out two vines from the Beast Plaque. A leaf capable of resisting an Eighth-Grade Spirit God was surely a divine artifact!

Listening to the chirping of the small creatures, Nie Kong smiled without speaking. This leaf was his greatest reliance, one he naturally couldn't produce until the most dangerous moment arrived.

"I wonder how long the defense of this leaf will last?" "Ugh, it can't protect us forever. If its effect wears off, won't we be done for immediately?" "..." Nie Kong’s heart skipped a beat.

Right. This leaf could protect them for a time, but not forever, and it couldn't be used for attack, meaning it couldn't drive away Yan He and the others.

If they followed him closely, once the leaf failed, he would only be captured. In that case, the leaf couldn't really save his life at all.

Ancestor Mu, with his vast divine powers, couldn't have overlooked this, could he? No matter.

He had to leave here first. If the leaf’s effect lasted long enough, perhaps he could find a chance to slip away completely.

With a thought, Nie Kong pushed both hands forward, and the medicinal cauldron immediately flipped over. "What's going on?" Yan He’s pupils abruptly dilated.

He stared at Nie Kong, whose body was rapidly shrinking opposite him, filled with disbelief. What was the origin of that leaf?

The Seven-Colored Leaf... Seven-Colored...

Seven-Colored... "Could it be..." Yan He stared at the layer of seven-colored luminescence covering Nie Kong's body.

A flash of inspiration struck his mind, and he blurted out, his face filled with shock: "The Seven-Colored Grand Venerable!" The Seven-Colored Grand Venerable? The people around stared blankly at Nie Kong, their faces dull, the four syllables echoing relentlessly in their minds.

"The Seven-Colored Grand Venerable?" Nie Kong, who had just disengaged from the "Crimson Star Combat Body" state and was preparing to bolt, was momentarily stunned upon hearing the four words called out by Yan He. The Seven-Colored Grand Venerable—Nie Kong certainly knew of him.

Among the memories of the Spirit Gods he had refined, there was quite a bit of information regarding this. Among the alien Spirit Gods currently in the Grand Venerable Spirit Realm, there were three Grand Venerables: one was the "Void-Reaching Grand Venerable," who advanced over ten millennia ago; another was the "Thunder Dragon Grand Venerable," who appeared eight thousand years ago; and the third was the "Seven-Colored Grand Venerable" from five thousand years ago.

Except for the Void-Reaching Grand Venerable, who originated from the Primordial Heaven Mansion, the Thunder Dragon Grand Venerable and the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable were said to have achieved Spirit God status through solitary cultivation and had not attached themselves to any major power after entering the Grand Venerable Spirit Realm. Among them, the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable was the most enigmatic; virtually no one had heard of him before he reached the rank of Grand Venerable.

"Yan He actually associated it with the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable..." Seeing the dumbfounded expressions on Yan He and the others, Nie Kong found it somewhat ridiculous, yet it was also advantageous. If they believed he was connected to the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable, they surely wouldn't dare to deal with him so recklessly.

At the very least, they would have many reservations when acting, lest they offend a Grand Venerable. Perhaps Ancestor Mu also knew about the super-powerful figure named the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable in the Grand Venerable Spirit Realm, and deliberately made the leaf look this way as a diversionary tactic.

"Nie Kong, what is your relationship with the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable?" Yan He gasped sharply, his eyes wide as bronze bells, and he demanded, almost word by word. "The Seven-Colored Grand Venerable?

I don't know him." Nie Kong shook his head without hesitation, but the smile on his face held a hint of mystery. "You don't know him?" Hearing Nie Kong’s blunt denial, Yan He’s heart sank.

Nie Kong had just ascended from the Divine Void Realm, so it was natural that he wouldn't know the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable, who had reached the peak of Spirit God realm five millennia ago. But not knowing him didn't mean Nie Kong had no connection to him; otherwise, where did this miraculous leaf come from?

In the Grand Venerable Spirit Realm, almost no one used this kind of seven-colored talisman artifact, save for the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable and those connected to him. Yan He's expression shifted between grim and uncertain, while Nie Kong secretly chuckled.

This was exactly the effect he wanted. Yan He and the others had made a prejudgment, and even if Nie Kong denied it, it would be difficult for them to believe he truly had no connection to the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable.

In reality, Nie Kong genuinely had no association with the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable, and even if discovered later, the Grand Venerable wouldn't blame him. "Yan He, it seems you cannot break through my leaf’s defense.

Since that is the case, I shall take my leave. We may never meet again!" Nie Kong laughed loudly, his figure flashing away to a distance of several tens of meters.

The leaf remained glued to him, its seven-colored radiant glow completely enveloping his body. "Hold it!" Yan He suddenly pierced through the void and blocked Nie Kong's path.

The other dozen or so Spirit Gods recovered their senses and landed beside him. "Do you have any further instructions?" Nie Kong frowned slightly, glaring at those Fifth and Sixth-Grade Spirit Gods with a fierce light in his eyes, contemplating whether to capture a few more Spirit Gods for refinement.

With the protection of this Seven-Colored Leaf, he could seize two or three Spirit Gods even if Yan He tried to stop him. However, after a brief thought, Nie Kong abandoned the idea; delaying for a few Fifth or Sixth-Grade Spirit Gods wasn't worth it.

The dozen or so individuals sensed Nie Kong's ill intentions and trembled inwardly, subconsciously taking a few steps back. Their fear of Nie Kong had taken root in their souls.

They had cultivated for countless years to reach their current realm and none wished to end up like Yi Xing. "Nie Kong, you may go!" Yan He finally gritted his teeth and waved fiercely at Nie Kong, his eyes filled with unwillingness and helplessness.

Letting Nie Kong leave meant the Dan Xian Sect's ambitions were dashed, and all previous losses were in vain. But if they continued to tangle with Nie Kong, they risked offending the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable.

Though the Dan Xian Sect was powerful, it couldn't compare to the Primordial Heaven Mansion, which had produced the Void-Reaching Grand Venerable. Even though the Void-Reaching Grand Venerable had been in secluded cultivation somewhere in the Grand Venerable Spirit Realm for the past ten thousand years and never interfered in the affairs of the Primordial Heaven Mansion, having such a great deity as their silent patron meant no force dared to offend the Mansion too severely—the Thunder Dragon and Seven-Colored Grand Venerables were no exception.

The Dan Xian Sect was different; without a true ultimate weapon, provoking the wrath of the Seven-Colored Grand Venerable, while not leading to total collapse, would likely cause their strength to plummet. At this moment, Yan He had no choice but to let Nie Kong depart.

"Time will prove that the decision you're making now is very wise," Nie Kong said with a mysterious smile. "Also, thank you again for the generous gift today!" As his voice fell, Nie Kong was about to leave when three powerful auras suddenly swept in fiercely from the direction of Pan Yuan City.

... ...