Boom! A thunderous roar echoed through the void as the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron before Ye Chen blazed with power. Above it, the Dao Rhyme surged, manifesting a spectacular Heaven and Earth Phenomenon: towering ancient palaces, majestic mountains and rivers, and a dim, swirling starry sea.
Yao Feng Old Ancestor’s face turned ashen. He mumbled, utterly bewildered, “How could that brat Ye Chen possibly conjure such a phenomenon?”
Meanwhile, the surrounding alchemists had descended into a frenzy. To draw a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon during pill refining meant an incredibly rich Dao Rhyme, a resonance with the very fabric of the world. And Ye Chen was refining the Nine-Revolutions Enlightenment Pill! If successful, the value of this batch of pills would be immeasurable!
Someone gasped, “Look at Ye Chen’s technique!”
All eyes turned to Ye Chen. Enveloped in endless divine radiance, he seemed to communicate directly with the profound principles of heaven and earth. The surface of the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron and all its inscribed Dao patterns flared to life, and the phantom of a colossal dragon soared around it. The Bone-Chilling Ghost Flame erupted with both chilling cold and searing heat, creating a perfect, terrifying balance. A terrifying power surged into the cauldron. Wisps of ethereal smoke rose, and an intoxicating pill fragrance wafted through the air.
The cauldron’s lid vibrated violently, then several streaks of divine light shot forth, piercing the sky. The crowd cried out in alarm, “The Nine-Revolutions Enlightenment Pills are complete!”
“Quick, stop them! These pills are sentient, they’re trying to escape!”
At that moment, Elder Cang Li soared into the air. “Everyone, attack together!”
Instantly, over a dozen figures joined forces, their combined might suppressing the six Nine-Revolutions Enlightenment Pills, pinning them in the void. Everyone stared at the pills in shock.
“Six pills! And all of them have Pill Halos! A minimum of six layers each!”
Yao Feng Old Ancestor stood frozen, muttering, “How is this possible? How is this possible?!”
The crowd excitedly examined Ye Chen’s pills. Ye Chen, still processing his victory, was immediately swarmed by the ecstatic onlookers. They were practically insane with excitement.
“In this competition, Ye Chen has defeated Yao Feng Old Ancestor!”
“Ye Chen is now the number one alchemist in the Southern Wilds!”
Suddenly, Yao Feng Old Ancestor shrieked, “No, no! Ye Chen, you cheated!”
The words dropped, and the entire plaza fell into a dead silence. Every single person turned to stare at Yao Feng Old Ancestor.
They had all witnessed Ye Chen refine this heaven-defying batch of pills with their own eyes! This was the first time in the Southern Wilds that anyone had surpassed the Yao Family in alchemy! The crowd was absolutely wild with excitement!
Yao Feng Old Ancestor’s eyes were bloodshot. “How can a seventeen-year-old youth defeat my millennia of alchemy mastery? How is that possible?!”
Elder Cang Li sneered, “Is the Yao Family such a sore loser?”
Yao Feng Old Ancestor snarled, “Have you ever won anything?”
The crowd murmured, “He’s desperate, he’s really desperate now.”
“Ah!” Yao Feng Old Ancestor, enraged and humiliated, stomped his foot violently on the ground. “I didn’t lose!”
But by now, even the other Yao Family elders couldn’t stand it. The Old Ancestors from lineages other than the Saint Son’s Lineage spoke up, “Yao Feng, a loss is a loss.”
Yao Feng’s face twisted into a grotesque mask, his hair disheveled as he spiraled into madness.
At this point, Ye Chen began to walk towards Yao Feng Old Ancestor. The crowd parted, creating a clear path. Yao Feng Old Ancestor snarled, “What was that alchemy technique you used?!”
Ye Chen smiled, his expression utterly sincere. “Want to learn? I can teach you.”
Buzz! Yao Feng Old Ancestor’s mind went blank. He was speechless, utterly broken.
Suddenly, Lu Xuan, clad in his white robe, stepped forward. He spoke calmly, “Yao Feng, fulfill your promise.”
Yao Feng Old Ancestor looked at Lu Xuan, his face a mask of confusion. “White Robe Supreme, what promise?”
Lu Xuan smiled, pointing at Yao Feng Old Ancestor. The crowd suddenly remembered: during the competition, Yao Feng Old Ancestor and Ye Chen had made a bet. If Ye Chen lost, he would be confined to Sin Valley for ten years. If Yao Feng Old Ancestor lost, he would have to kowtow three times to Ye Chen! Everyone was stunned. Yao Feng Old Ancestor was the current patriarch of the Yao Family. Would he really kowtow to Ye Chen? Such an act would utterly shatter the Yao Family’s prestige! The entire Yao Family was aghast.
Yao Feng Old Ancestor trembled, looking at Lu Xuan. “White Robe Supreme, must you be so extreme? Ye Chen and I were just having a bit of fun!”
Suddenly, Lu Xuan simply pressed down on Yao Feng Old Ancestor’s head and slammed it towards the ground, forcing him into a kowtow before Ye Chen.
Boom! With the first kowtow, Yao Feng Old Ancestor’s head smashed into the earth, instantly creating a three-thousand-zhang crack in the ground. Yao Feng Old Ancestor shrieked, a sound like a ghost wailing.
“Aaaargh!” His head was bleeding profusely.
Witnessing this, everyone was utterly dumbfounded. The White Robe Supreme was too brutal! Was this even a kowtow?
As everyone reeled in shock, Lu Xuan smiled and pressed Yao Feng’s head down again!
Boom! Crack! The earth tore open with another fissure. Yao Feng Old Ancestor’s face was covered in blood, a truly miserable sight. The entire plaza fell into an eerie silence.
The Saint Son’s Lineage of the Yao Family could only watch in stunned silence. Not a single person dared to step forward and intervene! The Yao Family’s dignity was being ground into the dirt by the White Robe Supreme!
Among the other Yao Family lineages, the Old Ancestors watched with a mix of worry and a hint of secret satisfaction. The Saint Son’s Lineage had been far too overbearing lately! They had long endured it, but could only tolerate it.
Lu Xuan looked at Yao Feng Old Ancestor. “People must ultimately pay the price for their words, and some simply need a little help.”
Boom! Crack! Lu Xuan pressed Yao Feng Old Ancestor’s head down once more! The earth split open again! After three kowtows, the massive Yao Family plaza had been carved into six distinct sections.
Lu Xuan released his grip, and Yao Feng Old Ancestor collapsed to the ground like a lifeless puppet. He wasn’t dead, but his spirit had suffered a devastating blow. White Robe Supreme, you absolute bastard! He, the dignified second-best alchemist in the Southern Wilds, had been forced to kowtow three times to a wet-behind-the-ears brat! And the rest of the Yao Family hadn’t dared utter a peep! Humiliation! This was naked, blatant humiliation! The White Robe Great Emperor hadn’t just peed on their Yao Family’s head; he’d defecated all over their dignity, and it was a runny mess.
Just then, Lu Xuan smiled and said, “Hey, Yao Feng, cheer up. Why do you look like someone just died in the Yao Family? My disciple Ye Chen is destined to ascend to the peak of the Grand Dao. Kowtowing to an Ancient Ancestor like him isn’t shameful; it’s an honor for your family.”
The words landed!
Pfft! Yao Feng Old Ancestor’s eyes rolled back, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, enraged. Damn it! Is that even something a human being would say?!
Lu Xuan looked at the crowd. “Someone comfort Yao Feng. This old geezer is carrying on like a child.”
The crowd: “…”
After a moment of silence, Elder Cang Li suddenly spoke up, “Yao Feng Old Ancestor, you’re incredible!”
Yao Feng Old Ancestor was utterly bewildered. The others were confused. “Incredible how?”
Elder Cang Li explained, “Has anyone in the Southern Wilds ever angered the White Robe Supreme and lived to tell the tale? Yao Feng Old Ancestor has created a miracle!” Everyone nodded in agreement. Indeed! Surviving the White Robe Supreme’s wrath was harder than ascending to heaven!
Pfft! Yao Feng Old Ancestor was so furious he spat blood, foamed at the mouth, convulsed, and then passed out cold. Damn it… If I’d known this, why the hell did we even hold this centennial event?!
Lu Xuan said, “Carry him away.”
The crowd: “…”
Soon, Yao Feng Old Ancestor was carried off. The crowd immediately surrounded Ye Chen. “Ye Chen, your alchemy talent is truly heaven-defying!” Seventeen years old! Most of them were lucky to reach Earth-tier at seventeen! Yet Ye Chen was already at the peak of Heaven-tier!
Just then, Dao Yuan Old Ancestor rushed over, looking panicked.
“Daoist Friend White Robe! Something terrible has happened!”
“The Silent Destruction Sect knew you weren’t in the sect, and they’re ambushing us!”