Observing the changes around him, the Tai Zun Chong Xu remained outwardly unperturbed, as if nothing in the world could shatter the calm mask of his features. "How did you accomplish this?"

Nie Kong smiled faintly. "It's quite simple. You must know that the blood of the Wood Ancestor flows within me, which means you should also know I have cultivated Xin Xiang (Mind Manifestation). Furthermore, even now, my divine power can manifest Xin Xiang at any moment. This is the 'Violet Luo Space' I carved out within my soul using Xin Xiang."

"I understand now."

Tai Zun Chong Xu nodded slightly. "It seems that upon ascending to the Tai Zun realm, you had already condensed an independent domain, much like Lei Long's 'Great Thunder Sound Palace'... Hmm, your true 'Violet Luo Space' must not be near. What you have now is merely a facsimile space created through Xin Xiang."

Nie Kong shot Tai Zun Chong Xu a look of mild surprise, chuckling, "Chong Xu, you truly live up to your title as the first Tai Zun among us Spirit Gods. Your insight is indeed extraordinary."

As Tai Zun Chong Xu had surmised, Nie Kong's current "Violet Luo Space" was indeed a mere imitation.

Before entrusting Xiang Xiang to Tai Yan, Nie Kong had separated a small portion of the "Violet Luo Space." Just now, using that small segment as a seed, Nie Kong employed his Chaos Divine Power to manifest the "Violet Luo Illusory Spirit Incense" Xin Xiang, constructing a new space deep within his own soul.

The moment the red mist surged toward him, a portion of Nie Kong's soul retreated into this "Violet Luo Space," preventing him from falling into complete slumber.

Hearing Nie Kong's compliment, Tai Zun Chong Xu remained composed. "Nie Kong, I still misjudged you. It took Lei Long several millennia to successfully condense the 'Great Thunder Sound Palace,' yet you possessed an independent space upon achieving Tai Zun status. This was indeed far beyond our expectations."

"Nie Kong, even if you hide part of your soul within this fabricated independent space and temporarily escape calamity, the fate of being sealed cannot ultimately be avoided."

A cold smile touched the aged face of Tai Zun Pangu. "You deliberately used the aura of the 'Chaos Immortal Spirit' to lure this old man and Brother Chong Xu into your soul space; you must have some scheme in mind. Unfortunately, in the face of absolute power, any deceptive trickery is but a pile of dust and rubble."

Nie Kong grinned, "Pangu, you truly don't care for my objective?"

"Once you are completely sealed, this old man will directly search your soul. Not a single memory will be hidden." Tai Zun Pangu's smile persisted, yet it carried a chilling edge.

"Oh?"

Nie Kong gave Tai Zun Pangu a look loaded with hidden meaning, then casually reached out toward his left side. Suddenly, a small, tender hand materialized in his grasp.

Subsequently, Nie Kong pulled that small hand toward his chest...

An exquisitely carved infant suddenly popped into existence with a crisp cry of "Yiya." The baby bounced up, swinging like it was playing on a swing suspended from Nie Kong's neck. Its little body was plump and completely bare, its skin crystal clear like precious jade—utterly adorable.

"The Chaos Immortal Spirit!"

Tai Zun Pangu's eyes flew wide open, gleaming intensely. Beside him, Tai Zun Chong Xu could no longer maintain his composure; his pupils contracted slightly.

"Hand it over to me!"

He roared urgently, and the figure of Tai Zun Pangu, condensed from soul energy, shot forward. Almost simultaneously, Nie Kong raised a finger and jabbed firmly into the baby's round navel.

"Mother, I'm hungry..."

The little creature shuddered, its small mouth pouting pitifully, tears welling up. Before his words had faded, Tai Zun Pangu's claw arrived, viciously gripping one of the infant's tiny legs, his five fingers digging deeply into the soft, fair flesh.

"The 'Chaos Immortal Spirit' belongs to me," a ferocious grin spread across Tai Zun Pangu's face, which normally looked gentle and aged.

"Yiya!"

The little one's eyes lit up instantly. With a joyous shout, he let go of Nie Kong's neck, turned, and clung tightly to Tai Zun Pangu's hand. Then, he opened his mouth wide and bit down fiercely, looking exactly like a starving ghost who had just discovered a mouthwatering pork knuckle.

With a single bite, a section was instantly torn away from Tai Zun Pangu's arm.

"This..."

Tai Zun Pangu stared wide-eyed. The pain from the bite to his arm was negligible to him, but the reality that the 'Chaos Immortal Spirit' had taken a huge chunk out of his arm left him utterly stunned and incredulous as he watched the child open his mouth again, lunging for his arm once more.

"Hmm?"

Tai Zun Chong Xu gasped in surprise, then his figure suddenly dissolved into a wisp of red mist, reverting to its soul state.

With a beckoning motion from Nie Kong's right hand, the red mist fell into his palm. Tai Zun Chong Xu had instantly severed the connection between his main body and this soul projection.

Chong Xu's retreat instantly jolted Pangu from his shock, and his form recoiled backward. But a moment later, a flicker of surprise crossed Tai Zun Pangu's eyes. He suddenly realized that this soul projection of his could not exit Nie Kong's "Violet Luo Space."

In the blink of an eye, the little creature had gnawed clean Pangu's entire hand and the lower half of his arm. The child's small hands were now clinging to Tai Zun Pangu's shoulder.

"Nie Kong, don't celebrate yet!"

Tai Zun Pangu's expression grew grim. "This 'Chaos Immortal Spirit' will eventually fall into my hands." Gritting his teeth, Tai Zun Pangu suppressed his raging desire for the spirit and attempted to mimic Chong Xu’s maneuver, forcefully severing the link between this soul and his primary body.

"How is this possible?"

However, Tai Zun Pangu soon cried out in disbelief, his eyes filled with incomprehension. He found that the connection between his main body and this soul projection could not be severed. He had assumed his soul was trapped in the "Violet Luo Space" because the space contained the nature of 'Void Power.'

But now, it seemed that was not the case.

Nie Kong's smile widened. "Pangu, you have coveted the 'Chaos Immortal Spirit' for ten thousand years, yet your understanding of it is far inferior to Tai Zun Zhu Yin's. When I left the sixth layer of the 'Tai Shi Grotto-Heaven' secret realm, she told me that when the 'Chaos Immortal Spirit' first awakens, its soul is intensely hungry. Merely poking its navel will amplify that hunger manifold, demanding immediate feeding."

Seeing Pangu's utter bewilderment, Nie Kong's smile grew broader. "It's a pity this little fellow's strength is not high. Outside, even if I poked his navel, he could only consume less than your souls. Otherwise, why would I sacrifice most of my soul to let you seal me, luring you into my Violet Luo Space? Old man Chong Xu reacted too swiftly; the moment he sensed something wrong, he cut off that soul projection. But you weren't so lucky."

"Though this little one's strength is limited, he was once the 'Tai Yi Tai Zun.' Instinctively, he possesses insight into the Tai Yi Realm. Once your soul is bitten by him, you can never escape, unless your soul is entirely consumed, or this little fellow is finally full."

"But with me here, can this little fellow ever get full?"

Nie Kong raised his index finger and made a few gestures, glancing mockingly at Tai Zun Pangu.

By this point, Tai Zun Pangu's entire right arm had been devoured. The little one's face was flushed with excitement, his mouth opening and closing at an astonishing speed.