“I slept well.”
Returning to Azure Mystery Peak, Ji Fuyao’s eyes shimmered with divine radiance as she observed her Master’s relaxed demeanor. When she first became his disciple, she’d mistaken it for laziness. Later, she realized it was anything but. This was the embodiment of ‘Dao to Nature’.
Only her Master could achieve such a state; even her third junior brother couldn’t.
Soon, Lu Xuan, Ji Fuyao, and Ye Chen gathered at the stone table. Poached fish, snake stew, roasted tiger tendon… Lu Xuan took a few bites and commented, “Not bad. Quite delicious.”
Ji Fuyao smiled radiantly. “Yes.”
After finishing his meal, Lu Xuan settled back into his recliner. Once Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen had eaten, he retrieved the Heavenly Origin Cauldron and handed it to Ji Fuyao. “This is the Heavenly Origin Cauldron. Use this for cooking from now on. The Dao Profound Iron Pot has served its time.”
Ji Fuyao took the cauldron, examining it closely. This ancient iron cauldron radiated terrifying Dao Rhyme, imbued with both ‘Dao’ and ‘Momentum’. It was far more formidable than her own Ultimate Emperor Weapon, Howling Heaven.
“Master, what makes this different?” Ji Fuyao asked.
Lu Xuan casually replied, “It’s merely a Three-rotation Quasi-Dao Supreme tier artifact.”
The Heavenly Origin Cauldron trembled slightly, expressing its dissatisfaction.
Ji Fuyao gently patted the cauldron. “Even Ultimate Emperor Weapons are mere trash before my Master, let alone a mere Quasi-Dao Supreme tier artifact like you.”
The Heavenly Origin Cauldron felt like weeping. To think its destiny was to be a cooking pot… it was truly heartbroken.
Lu Xuan chuckled. “The Heavenly Origin Cauldron also contains rich Rule Power. Early exposure to this Rule Power will benefit you both.”
“Alright!” Ye Chen exclaimed, his eyes gleaming.
Old Yao muttered to himself, “My Yao Family only possesses one Two-rotation Quasi-Dao Supreme tier alchemy cauldron, and that’s a treasured family heirloom. How can Peak Master Lu just casually toss one out for cooking?! This truly highlights the importance of foundation! Disciples must be nurtured lavishly! Though Chen’er and Ji Fuyao are One-star Great Emperors, the Dao Rhyme within them is comparable to Five-star Great Emperors!”
As Old Yao pondered, Lu Xuan waved a hand. “Ye Chen, come with me. I have a gift for Old Yao.”
Old Yao felt a surge of excitement. Ye Chen followed Lu Xuan into the cave dwelling, and Old Yao’s soul form floated out from the jade pendant on Ye Chen’s chest.
Lu Xuan directly produced an Emperor Body. “Old Yao, you’ve worried yourself sick over Ye Chen. I will now help you reconstruct your physical body. This is a Nine-star Great Emperor’s Emperor Body. I will first help you integrate with it, and you will directly Attain Emperor! Furthermore, as you continuously refine the power within this body, breaking through to the High-star Emperor Realm will be no problem.”
As his words fell, Old Yao was utterly stunned. Attain Emperor!
Old Yao’s soul form trembled slightly. “Thank you, Peak Master Lu, for this recreating grace.”
Lu Xuan smiled. “It’s nothing.”
Next, Lu Xuan imparted a Spirit Art to Old Yao. Old Yao’s soul drifted into the Emperor Body, and he silently recited the Spirit Art Lu Xuan had given him. Soon, a profound Qi Mechanism surged from the Emperor Body, and endless, brilliant Dao Patterns flowed forth.
His soul began to form an invisible connection with this Emperor Body, a subtle, inexplicable aura. Threads of power, thousands of them, appeared, and Old Yao felt himself gradually gaining control over this physical form.
Half a day later, a thunderous Emperor Realm aura erupted from the Emperor Body. Old Yao slowly opened his eyes.
He had succeeded! This Emperor Body had recognized him as its master! He had Attained Emperor! And Old Yao could clearly sense the terrifying power contained within the body. Given time, once he refined all this power, he would become a High-star Great Emperor!
Ye Chen grew excited, his eyes reddening slightly. “Old Yao, you’ve finally recovered.”
Old Yao patted Ye Chen’s shoulder. “Excellent, excellent.”
Just then, a divine arc of light shot towards Azure Mystery Peak. With a boom, Gu Yuefang, the Dan Peak Master, clad in a gray robe, landed on Azure Mystery Peak.
“Lu Xuan, the Yao Family has an invitation.”
Lu Xuan welcomed Gu Yuefang into the cave dwelling. Gu Yuefang glanced at Old Yao. “And this Daoist Friend is?”
Old Yao smiled. “A friend of Peak Master Lu.”
Gu Yuefang nodded, then produced an invitation. “In three months, it will be the Yao Family’s Centennial Pill Grand Event! This is an invitation from the Yao Family to my Dan Peak. At that time, not only will the Yao Family Old Ancestor give a Dao lecture, but there will also be an alchemy competition for the younger generation. Ye Chen’s alchemy talent is heaven-defying; such a grand event must not be missed!”
Upon hearing this, Ye Chen’s body trembled slightly. The Yao Family… it was time to go! He could finally reunite with his mother! He would also send a message to his father, inviting him to come along.
Gu Yuefang looked at Lu Xuan. “What do you think, Peak Master Lu?”
Lu Xuan smiled. “Go, of course we’ll go.”
Gu Yuefang chuckled. “Good. Ye Chen, during this time, besides cultivating your martial Dao, you can refine more pills.”
“Understood,” Ye Chen replied.
Soon, Gu Yuefang departed. Ye Chen turned to Old Yao. “Old Yao, who is the Strongest Alchemist in the Southern Wilds from the Yao Family?”
Old Yao pondered. “Naturally, it’s the Yao Family Ancestor, Yao Chen, but the Ancestor cannot emerge now. The strongest active alchemist is the Saint Son’s Lineage Old Ancestor, Yao Feng!”
Yao Feng!
Ye Chen’s expression was serious. “This time, returning to the Yao Family, I absolutely cannot disappoint Mother. In three months, I want to become the Strongest Alchemist in the Southern Wilds! Master, Old Yao, please help me!”
Old Yao was stunned. How could it be so easy? Ye Chen was indeed a Heaven-tier Alchemist, but there were still vast differences even among Heaven-tier Alchemists!
At this moment, Lu Xuan smiled. “Can do. In three months, I guarantee the title of Strongest Alchemist in the Southern Wilds will be yours!” He directly carved his Alchemy Insights into a jade slip and tossed it to Ye Chen.
Ye Chen’s divine sense probed the jade slip, and he was instantly dumbfounded. These insights! They were practically tailor-made for him! Some of the concepts were ones he was already contemplating, now extended and perfected by his Master.
Ye Chen couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. Master understands me better than my own father! He’s been silently watching over me all this time. “Ah…” Ye Chen’s eyes welled up with tears.
Lu Xuan patted Ye Chen’s shoulder. “Go. Don’t let these insights restrict your alchemy. Learn from me and live, imitate me and die. In a while, come back to me, and I’ll give you more pointers.”
“Understood, Master,” Ye Chen said.
From then on, Ye Chen plunged into a frenzy of alchemy. Old Yao had said the Yao Family valued alchemy prowess highly, right? Then he would become the Strongest Alchemist in the Southern Wilds, surpassing Yao Feng! That way, Master wouldn’t need to ‘subdue them with virtue’; his own alchemy skills would be enough for the Yao Family to acknowledge him. He didn’t want his mother to be put in an awkward position.
Furthermore, Old Yao had informed him that the various lineages within the Yao Family were complex, with the Saint Son’s Lineage and Saint Daughter’s Lineage having long been at odds. Since this was the Yao Family, his mother’s family, he didn’t want to cause too much trouble. Therefore, he hoped to gain the Yao Family’s genuine recognition, not just because he was the White Robe Supreme’s disciple, but for his own alchemy achievements.
One day. Ten days. One month. Two months. Time flew by! Ye Chen’s alchemy prowess surged continuously. He frequently sought guidance from Lu Xuan. A single casual remark from Lu Xuan would leave him stunned for half a day.
“A single word from Master is worth refining a hundred cauldrons of pills!”
Even Old Yao was astonished. Ye Chen was practically born for alchemy.
“Chen’er, I can no longer understand your alchemy techniques!” Old Yao exclaimed. “Your alchemy level… it might already rival the Ancestor’s!”
Ye Chen shook his head. “Still not enough.” Sweat beaded on his face. His hands moved, Spirit Arts shifting, his alchemy techniques flowing like water, imbued with a profound Dao Rhyme.
Old Yao felt a pang of bittersweet pride. “Chen’er is truly going to astound the entire Southern Wilds!”
Soon, only ten days remained until the Yao Family’s Centennial Pill Grand Event. Gu Yuefang, the Dan Peak Master, sent a message: “In seven days, we depart for the Yao Family.”
Meanwhile, the three major powers—Dark Shadow Island, the Demon Court, and the Holy Alliance—were secretly contacting the Yao Family. They, too, wished to descend and exchange for Star Stones.