"Hong Ling... it really is you!" Seeing that pretty face, Nie Kong first froze for a moment, then his eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and joy.

"You have to call me Master!" Mu Hong Ling shot Nie Kong a look, reminding him playfully.

"Alright, Little Master."

Nie Kong couldn't help but chuckle at this, which only earned him a direct eye-roll from Mu Hong Ling, clearly displeased with the "Little" preceding "Master."

Years had passed, but Mu Hong Ling was still the same Mu Hong Ling; that familiar feeling surged up from the depths of his heart once more.

Sizing up her face, which appeared more mature, Nie Kong suppressed the emotion rising in his chest and asked somewhat urgently, "Little Master, what are you doing in this place?"

When he first saw that jade pendant, Nie Kong had been worried sick about her safety. Now seeing her unharmed brought him immense relief, but the confusion in his heart only intensified.

"Surprised, are you?"

Mu Hong Ling glanced at Nie Kong with a knowing smile. "More than two years ago, when I first appeared here, even I found it somewhat incredible."

Saying this, Mu Hong Ling suddenly adopted a look of utter defeat. "Time flies so fast. Back in the 'Prison Fire Nether Spring,' you were only at Spirit Nurturing First Grade. After just these few years apart, you're already a Spirit God, and a Ninth Grade Spirit God at that! In the entire Supreme Spirit Realm, probably only those few Supremes could surpass you. It seems your Master will never catch up to her disciple; how pitiful I am."

"No matter if you catch up or not, you are still my Little Master."

Knowing she was deliberately putting on that pitiful act, Nie Kong could barely contain his laughter, but then a shock jolted him. "You're a Heaven Spirit Master now?"

It was only then that Nie Kong realized Mu Hong Ling standing before him possessed the strength of a Heaven Spirit Master, likely already reaching Ninth Grade Heaven Spirit. Mu Hong Ling's natural talent was astounding, but to advance from Spirit Transformation to Heaven Spirit in such a short time was truly unbelievable.

Mu Hong Ling must have experienced some monumental fortunate encounter over these years.

Perhaps it was deeply connected to her sudden appearance in the "Primal Chaos Grotto-Heaven."

"I just reached Ninth Grade Heaven Spirit the day before yesterday."

Mu Hong Ling appeared modest, though a hint of barely concealed, small pride colored her tone. "Still, I can't compare to my disciple."

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes darted back and forth over Nie Kong.

"So cute."

Catching sight of the gourd peeking out and peering around Nie Kong's chest, Mu Hong Ling's gaze immediately locked onto it. Her slender, fair, and tender jade hand reached out.

When it came to such adorable little things, if Bai Yuqing’s resistance level was a hundred, Mu Hong Ling’s was zero.

"Ah! Gourd," the Zhi Gourd squeaked and immediately shrank back into Nie Kong's embrace.

Unfortunately, before it could hide its head, Mu Hong Ling's fingers were already there, snatching it up by its almost negligible neck and lifting it aloft.

Nie Kong felt a stirring in his heart. The Gourd and Mu Hong Ling were roughly equal in strength, yet the Gourd had almost no power to resist as she caught it. Around her fingertips seemed to swirl a strange aura, easily sealing the Gourd's power within its body.

"Break!"

Mu Hong Ling gave the Gourd's smooth head a sharp peck, laughing wickedly. "Disciple, where did you find such a cute little thing? Why don't you just give it to me as a welcoming gift?"

With that, a few more pop sounds echoed.

The pad of Mu Hong Ling’s finger curiously poked the Gourd's fair, tender, and plump little belly.

"If Little Master wants it, you can have it."

Nie Kong teased, not taking her words seriously. He knew the girl was just extremely curious about the Gourd and wanted to play with it a bit.

The Gourd struggled until its little face turned bright red, and upon hearing their exchange, it took them seriously, letting out a tragic scream: "Tai Yan, save me! Nie Kong is trying to give me away to this wicked woman!"

"Pfft."

Hui Mogu from Nie Kong’s chest emerged, and Tai Yan laughed so hard her petals trembled.

Mu Hong Ling heard the sound and turned her head, her eyes instantly lighting up again.

"Little Master, this is Tai Yan."

Before Mu Hong Ling could speak, Nie Kong quickly introduced them. Tai Yan was not the Gourd; he couldn't let this girl’s drool "crush" her.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Tai Yan transformed into human form and floated gracefully before Nie Kong.

Upon seeing this graceful figure and peerlessly beautiful face, even Mu Hong Ling, being a woman herself, couldn't help but pause, a flash of astonishment crossing her beautiful eyes.

"Greetings, Sister Hong Ling," Tai Yan said sweetly.

"Oh, hello, hello, you, you two..." Mu Hong Ling snapped out of her daze, her beautiful eyes darting between Nie Kong and Tai Yan, somewhat suspicious of their relationship.

"I am Brother's wife," Tai Yan replied, beaming.

"What? Disciple, you—" Mu Hong Ling was startled, her delicate willow-leaf brows immediately shooting up, as if the person standing opposite was a fickle heartbreaker.

"Little Master, it’s not what you think. I'll explain everything to you later."

Nie Kong chuckled dryly, cutting off her words before Mu Hong Ling could finish speaking. "Right, Little Master, are you the only one here?"

Mu Hong Ling suddenly gasped, "Oh dear! I almost forgot the important business..."

"Wicked woman, you got drool all over my face!"

Taking advantage of Mu Hong Ling’s momentary distraction, the Gourd finally broke free from her clutches, cursed loudly, and scurried back into Nie Kong's embrace.

Mu Hong Ling glanced toward Nie Kong's chest, then reluctantly withdrew her gaze. "Disciple, follow me closely. My Master wants to see you."

"Your Master? Zhi—" Nie Kong was stunned.

This so-called "Primal Chaos Grotto-Heaven" Six-Layered Secret Realm truly wasn't home to just Mu Hong Ling.

"You'll know soon enough. I guarantee you’ll be greatly surprised..."

Mu Hong Ling gave a mysterious smile, turned, and started walking. "Keep up!" In the next instant, her beautiful figure melted into the void, vanishing without a trace.

Nie Kong and Tai Yan exchanged glances, both filled with doubt.

Linking arms with Tai Yan, Nie Kong took just one step forward, and the invisible barrier enveloped by the Chaos Immortal Qi suddenly parted, revealing the same lush green desert oasis to Nie Kong and Tai Yan. Only now, amidst the trees of the oasis, several pavilions could be vaguely discerned.

"Disciple, Tai Yan, hurry up."

On the stone path a dozen meters away, Mu Hong Ling was smiling radiantly, beckoning them continuously.

Nie Kong quickly hastened his steps with Tai Yan, but the doubts in his heart only grew stronger. Just who was lurking in this place? His Master, the Seven-Colored Supreme, did not know about this space; were Supreme Chong Xu and Supreme Pangu and the others equally unaware?

The Gourd was also immensely curious, unable to resist poking its head out of Nie Kong’s chest again, looking left and right while warily monitoring Mu Hong Ling’s movements.

In a short while, Nie Kong and Tai Yan followed Mu Hong Ling to the entrance of an exquisite pavilion.

For more novels, visit storyread.net.