The vast expanse roiled with churning, crimson mist, like slow-moving clouds. This was the Nether Source of the War Clan.

After exchanging pleasantries with Zhan Yunlan and the others, Nie Kong had arrived here. His entire purpose for visiting the War Clan was to locate Chi Lian and fulfill the commission bestowed upon him by Grand Elder Zhuyin.

"Step, step..." The echoes of his footsteps resounded with a distinct rhythm in the emptiness. Nie Kong moved forward with an unhurried grace; the fierce pressure emanating from the surroundings had no effect on him.

Several hundred meters later, the oppressive atmosphere abruptly cleared, and Nie Kong stepped into a small, square chamber. Within this space stood a towering statue, rugged in appearance, clad in crimson robes—it was the Great Elder Chi Lian of the Scarlet Star Clan.

"Greetings, Elder Chi Lian," Nie Kong paused, offering a slight bow toward the statue. "Nie Kong, so it is you..." A burst of hearty laughter suddenly erupted.

Immediately afterward, a fiery crimson aura surged out from the sculpture, coalescing into a stalwart, broad-shouldered man in red robes. His bell-like eyes scrutinized Nie Kong for a moment before he cried out in utter disbelief, "Nie Kong, you...

you are already a Grand Elder?" Having broken free from Pan Hu’s control, Chi Lian’s strength had recovered remarkably quickly. He was now equivalent to a Fifth Grade Star God, yet he had once been a supreme powerhouse who had neared the Grand Elder realm; thus, his insight was naturally far beyond that of a common Spirit God.

In an instant, he perceived the anomaly in Nie Kong. "Half a step away from the Grand Elder realm." Nie Kong saw no need to conceal anything from Chi Lian and said with a smile, "Elder Chi Lian..." He was cut off mid-sentence by Chi Lian waving a hand.

"Nie Kong, stop calling me Elder. It sounds awkward.

If you respect me at all, just call me Big Brother." This was the advantage of strength; Nie Kong’s Half-Step Grand Elder power was enough to warrant equal footing. Big Brother?

Nie Kong was momentarily stunned before breaking into a bright, easy laugh. "Alright, Big Brother Chi Lian.

I just returned from the Grand Elder Spirit Realm. I met Grand Elder Zhuyin of the Immortal Star Clan there..." "Wh...

what... Zhuyin?" Chi Lian instinctively clamped down on Nie Kong’s shoulder, his rugged face flushing crimson with intense excitement.

"Nie Kong, did I hear that right? You met Zhuyin?

You truly met Zhuyin?" "Big Brother, what is your relationship with Grand Elder Zhuyin?" Nie Kong was slightly taken aback. Chi Lian seemed overly agitated upon hearing news of Grand Elder Zhuyin, and judging by his address, their relationship appeared to be quite intimate.

Chi Lian took a deep breath, desperately suppressing the turbulence within his chest. "Nie Kong, at this point, I won't hide anything from you.

If it hadn't been for that upheaval ten thousand years ago, Zhuyin and I would have already been married. We agreed back then: the day I achieved the Grand Elder realm would be our wedding day.

Regrettably..." Shaking his head with regret, Chi Lian couldn't help but burst into loud laughter once more. "Thank the heavens Zhuyin is still alive.

I knew she couldn't possibly have died." Nie Kong suddenly understood; it turned out Chi Lian and Xian Zhuyin were lovers. "Nie Kong, tell me quickly, how is she now?" Chi Lian shook Nie Kong’s shoulder, unable to contain his eagerness.

"Big Brother, she is very well now." Nie Kong understood his feelings and didn't draw out the suspense. "She was ambushed by Pangu and severely injured.

She ultimately fled to the sixth layer of the 'Primeval Celestial Abode,' evading the searches of Chongxu and Pangu, and survived by utilizing the shed husk left behind by the 'Chaotic Immortal Spirits' there. However, her injuries back then were too severe; she still hasn't fully healed and must rely on that chaotic body, unable to leave the 'Primeval Celestial Abode.'" Chi Lian finally calmed down somewhat, releasing Nie Kong’s shoulder and nodding repeatedly.

"Good, good. As long as she is alive, there is hope." "Big Brother Chi Lian, before I left the 'Primeval Celestial Abode,' Grand Elder Zhuyin asked me to give you this." As he spoke, a red light flickered in Nie Kong’s palm, revealing a length of bamboo about half a foot long.

The bamboo appeared to have been cleaved down the middle, leaving only one half, its surface etched with countless fine patterns. "Fire Feather Celestial Bamboo!" Chi Lian’s face lit up with joy.

Simultaneously, a streak of red shadow flickered out from within his body. Aside from the surface markings, its shape was identical to the piece of bamboo Nie Kong held.

Nie Kong felt a little surprised. When Chi Lian first appeared, Nie Kong had sensed an immensely powerful force hidden within him—a power so potent that even a Ninth Grade Spirit God like Da Yan Lingzun might not necessarily have been able to subdue him.

Only now did he realize that this power was concealed within the bamboo. It seemed the "Fire Feather Celestial Bamboo" must have originally been whole, but for some unknown reason, it had been split into two halves: one for Chi Lian, one for Xian Zhuyin.

"This 'Fire Feather Celestial Bamboo' is the token of my devotion to Zhuyin." Seeing the curiosity in Nie Kong’s expression, a trace of tenderness emerged in Chi Lian’s eyes. "After this bamboo was split in two, we integrated our respective halves into our bodies, accompanying us for thousands of years.

The half of the 'Fire Feather Celestial Bamboo' you brought contains Zhuyin’s enlightenment from her cultivation, including the understanding she gained upon becoming a Grand Elder. My half of the 'Fire Feather Celestial Bamboo' similarly holds my cultivation insights, and of course, it has accumulated an extremely vast power.

When I fell into slumber, this power also became dormant, only being stirred when I recovered to the Star God realm." Saying this, Chi Lian’s expression turned peculiar. "It is precisely because of the presence of this latent power that the woman Da Yan dared not act rashly against me or the War Clan.

However, the power within my 'Fire Feather Celestial Bamboo' is active now, yet it cannot yet be used. If Da Yan knew the truth, she would likely be furious enough to die." "Big Brother, you don't need to worry about her at all now," Nie Kong couldn't help but smile faintly.

"She is currently a guest in my Spirit Mansion." "Oh?" Chi Lian was slightly astonished. "Have your grudges been resolved?" Nie Kong chuckled.

"It can't exactly be called resolved. It's just that I am now stronger than her, and I possess the secret to helping her advance to the Grand Elder realm.

Naturally, she behaves." Hearing this, Chi Lian couldn't help but sigh with deep feeling. "When I passed the Scarlet Star Clan's inheritance to you, I knew you weren't ordinary.

I never expected that in just these few short years, you would have grown to this extent. By the way, Nie Kong, you have visited the Grand Elder Spirit Realm—do you know the current situation of the Scarlet Star Clan?" "That..." Nie Kong hesitated.

"Were they exterminated by Pangu?" Chi Lian's expression drastically changed. "Not exactly." Nie Kong pondered for a moment before briefly recounting the situation in the Outer Heavens.

"Pangu! Chongxu!" Chi Lian’s features twisted, his eyes turning blood-red, as if two balls of raging fire burned in his pupils.

He growled, "These two are truly vicious! In order to forcibly open the 'Primeval Celestial Abode,' they actually used the Primeval Palace to drain the life force of the clansmen from both the Scarlet Star and Immortal Star Clans.

Unacceptable! I must recover my strength as soon as possible." Chi Lian paced back and forth in the space like an enraged male lion.

After pacing for a long time, he suddenly stopped. "Nie Kong, I need to ask you for a favor." "Please, Big Brother, tell me." "..." ...

...RO

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