"Dayan, your initial attempt to use the method of 'treating the original body as the incarnation and the incarnation as the original body' was nothing more than an effort to shed the spiritual vessel and achieve the Supreme Venerable rank," Nie Kong said slowly, ignoring the furious glare from the Dayan Spirit Venerable. "In truth, you didn't have to do that; you could have reached the Supreme Venerable realm without it."

Nie Kong's words struck like a thunderclap.

The Yan Spirit Venerable’s gaze shifted from Taiyan to Nie Kong, and she couldn't help but sneer, "How is that possible? Do you think the Supreme Venerable realm is so easily attained?"

"Everything in this world is possible."

Nie Kong paid no mind to the Dayan Spirit Venerable's attitude. Before entering the 'Tai Shi Grotto-Heaven,' he had already considered this possibility. Now, returning to the Spirit Mansion and witnessing the Dayan Spirit Venerable, who had broken through the netherworld seal and emerged from the abyss of depravity, he was even more certain of his judgment.

To be honest, Nie Kong hadn't expected the Dayan Spirit Venerable's power to recover so quickly.

By the standards of the 'Supreme Venerable Spirit Realm,' the Dayan Spirit Venerable was currently a Ninth-Rank Spirit Plan. When Nie Kong refined the 'Primal Chaos Immortal Qi' within the sixth level of the Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm, Taiyan’s cultivation had miraculously advanced to the Ninth-Rank Spirit God realm, making her virtually equal to the Dayan Spirit Venerable.

Taiyan and the Dayan Spirit Venerable shared the exact same origin for their souls. If the goal hadn't been the Supreme Venerable realm, Nie Kong could have forcefully helped Taiyan devour the Dayan Spirit Venerable. However, doing so would inevitably leave a flaw in Taiyan’s soul—even a trace of imperfection would render her unable to attain the Supreme Venerable rank, just like the Dayan Spirit Venerable.

As for the Dayan Spirit Venerable, now that Taiyan had taken human form and possessed independent consciousness, her previous method of swapping the original body and the incarnation was no longer viable. Devouring Taiyan was even more out of the question; setting aside her lack of power, even if she possessed it, her soul would still suffer a flaw.

"Now, both you and Taiyan are Ninth-Rank Spirit Gods. To reach the Supreme Venerable realm, neither devouring nor swapping bodies and incarnations will lead to promotion. Fusion is the only path to becoming a Supreme Venerable," Nie Kong stated, locking his gaze on the Dayan Spirit Venerable.

"Fusion—is it her fusing with me, or me fusing with her?" The Dayan Spirit Venerable knew Nie Kong spoke the truth, but seeing his calm demeanor ignited a burning rage within her. If not for this Nie Kong, she would have achieved the Supreme Venerable rank years ago; she wouldn't be subjected to his coercion now.

Although the two sides seemed equal at this moment, it was only superficial.

The Dayan Spirit Venerable understood clearly that she was practically fish on a chopping block, ready to be manipulated by Nie Kong at will. It was as if an elephant had suddenly turned into an ant, and an ant had become an elephant—this drastic reversal and contrast in identity and power made it incredibly difficult for her to remain composed.

"It is not you fusing with her, nor her fusing with you; it is the two of you fusing with each other."

With that, a smile bloomed on Nie Kong’s face. He nodded toward Taiyan, then waved his right hand, summoning a blazing sun into existence. A pale, ethereal aura spilled down, enveloping both Taiyan and the Dayan Spirit Venerable.

The Dayan Spirit Venerable instinctively wanted to evade, but the moment the thought surfaced, she forcefully suppressed it. This Nie Kong was no longer the insignificant figure from the netherworld of years past; his strength far surpassed hers. Even if she tried to dodge, she couldn't, and attempting it would only make her look ridiculous.

In that instant, her body was enveloped by that pale aura.

"Hoo!"

The Great Sun Primal Chaos True Fire flared fiercely, and a massive ball of snow-white flame instantly engulfed Taiyan and the Dayan Spirit Venerable, illuminating the entire Medicine King Palace.

Within the white fireball, the figures of Taiyan and the Dayan Spirit Venerable could vaguely be seen dissolving into a dense mist of blood, intertwining and mixing. In just a few seconds, they merged into a single mass, which then rapidly shifted and condensed into a single, exquisitely graceful red figure.

After a moment, the 'Great Sun Primal Chaos True Fire' extinguished.

The figure hovering several meters in the air gradually revealed a face identical to both Taiyan and the Dayan Spirit Venerable, but her temperament had undergone a monumental change—a thread of cold elegance woven through her purity, as if their two temperaments had perfectly merged, creating a unique allure.

"Hoo!"

Suddenly, a terrifying aura radiated from her body, instantly filling the entire Spirit Mansion. That sense of oppression washed over everything, causing Mu Xueyi and Qing Yue to nearly suffocate. Some of the small spirit beasts nurtured within the Spirit Mansion trembled violently and then fainted.

Fortunately, the terrifying aura vanished quickly, and Mu Xueyi and the others soon recovered.

"Nie Kong, is she Taiyan now, or the Dayan Spirit Venerable?" Qing Yue drifted urgently before Nie Kong, her face etched with lingering fear.

"She is both Taiyan and the Dayan Spirit Venerable."

Nie Kong smiled faintly. The 'Great Sun Primal Chaos True Fire' once again emanated from the white sun, enveloping her form. When the snow-white flames and the sun vanished after more than ten seconds, her body split into two, reforming as the twin-like Taiyan and Dayan Spirit Venerable.

Immediately, the two floated down from the high dais.

A flash of red, and Taiyan’s delicate body leaned against Nie Kong again, her face beaming with delight. "Brother, it’s exactly as you predicted. After fusing with her, I immediately felt one foot already stepping onto the threshold of the Supreme Venerable. With some time to adapt, I will certainly become a true Supreme Venerable."

"That feeling... that is the Supreme Venerable. It really is like that."

The Dayan Spirit Venerable stood frozen, her eyes locked onto Taiyan, her face flushed with excitement, her breathing becoming rapid.

"Dayan, how does it feel?" Nie Kong patted Taiyan’s fair hand, his smile warm.

"..."

The Dayan Spirit Venerable jolted back to reality, her gaze falling upon Nie Kong’s face, her expression indescribably complex. This person had once stolen her hope of achieving the Supreme Venerable rank, and now he was returning that hope.

She could feel that after the fusion, she still retained half the control over the body.

But the thought of sharing the same physical form with another person made her deeply reluctant, especially since that person had separated from her own body.

If not for what happened years ago...

The Dayan Spirit Venerable’s expression shifted, her heart a tumultuous mix of emotions, leaving her unable to decide for a moment.

"Only by using my 'Great Sun Primal Chaos True Fire' as the catalyst can you and Taiyan fuse perfectly. Otherwise, you will remain merely a Ninth-Rank Spirit God, forever unable to break through."

As Nie Kong said this, his expression softened. He continued with a smile, "After the fusion, you and Taiyan will be Supreme Venerables. When separated, you are you, and Taiyan is Taiyan. Furthermore, there is one more thing I must tell you: Above the Supreme Venerable realm, there is the 'Taiyi' realm. If I achieve the 'Taiyi Heavenly Venerable' in the future, I will ensure that you and Taiyan are thoroughly separated, and at that time, both of you will be Supreme Venerables. This is a promise I make to you."

If this fusion did not require the complete willingness of both Taiyan and the Dayan Spirit Venerable, without the slightest resistance, to truly enter the Supreme Venerable state, and if Taiyan hadn't been unwilling for Nie Kong to harm the Dayan Spirit Venerable after learning her origins, he wouldn't have needed to waste words.

"Do I have any other choice?"

After a long pause, the Dayan Spirit Venerable swept her gaze over Nie Kong and Taiyan, sighed deeply, and suddenly gritted her teeth. "Fine, Nie Kong, I agree. I hope you will also keep your promise then."

"With Taiyan present, you can rest assured. Even if you don't trust me, you must trust Taiyan."

"..."

Just then, a light, crisp, and sweet laugh sounded outside the Medicine King Palace: "Nie Kong, so you were all hiding here! Is this your Spirit Mansion?" Mu Hongling entered with a radiant smile, the little gourd perched on her shoulder. Upon entering the palace, she immediately sensed the strange atmosphere, and the smile on her face instantly turned to curiosity. To be continued...