“Five-star Pill Emperor’s Memories!” Yao Yan exclaimed, utterly dumbfounded.
Ye Chen was momentarily overwhelmed with excitement. If he could fuse with these Five-star Pill Emperor’s Memories, he would be standing on the shoulders of Great Emperors, surging forward! Attaining Emperor status in alchemy would only be a matter of time!
Lu Xuan chuckled, then imparted the refined spirit art to Ye Chen. “I’ve already placed several seals within this memory cluster. They will unlock progressively as your cultivation grows.”
Yao Yan’s illusory soul body trembled. He looked at Lu Xuan, a desperate plea in his voice. “Peak Master Lu… may I also view these Five-star Pill Emperor’s Memories? I will pay any price!”
A Pill Emperor!
This was the realm he had pursued his entire life! The ancient saying, “If I understand the Dao in the morning, I can die in the evening,” perfectly encapsulated his fervent desire for enlightenment. Now, a chance to attain Emperor status lay before him; how could he let such an opportunity slip? Yao Yan was willing to offer everything he possessed in exchange for this profound opportunity!
Lu Xuan spoke nonchalantly. “Elder Yao, you are Ye Chen’s alchemy mentor and his kin. Of course, you may view it.”
Buzz!
Yao Yan’s mind instantly went blank with excited shock! He, too, could now comprehend these Pill Emperor’s Memories! His soul body trembled so violently he was almost speechless. He quickly tried to confirm. “Peak Master Lu, are there any other conditions if I comprehend them?”
“It’s merely a Five-star Pill Emperor’s Memories,” Lu Xuan said lightly, as if dismissing something trivial, “it’s nothing precious!”
Yao Yan was utterly stunned.
A tsunami raged in his heart! To him, a Five-star Pill Emperor was an unreachable, legendary existence! Yet, to someone as profound as Lu Xuan, it amounted to nothing. This was the chasm between them! In that moment, Lu Xuan appeared to Yao Yan like a towering, unreachable mountain, an existence that could only be gazed upon with reverence.
Lu Xuan smiled. “Elder Yao, please help Ye Chen refine this memory cluster.”
Yao Yan nodded solemnly. “Understood.”
His mind involuntarily drifted to the words of that supreme powerhouse from the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone, the one covered in eerie and ominous power.
“Today’s cause, tomorrow’s effect…”
He had poured everything into escorting Ye Chen out of the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone, believing his journey had ended there. He never imagined he would encounter a chance to attain Emperor status! All his efforts had been worth it!
Nearby, Ye Chen sat cross-legged, his hands forming spirit arts as he began to refine the Pill Emperor’s Memories. Yao Yan stood guard beside him.
A torrent of information surged into Ye Chen’s mind, impacting his spiritual sea like a vast river. Half a day later, a boundless, sparkling river of stars lay quietly within Ye Chen’s sea of consciousness. This was the sealed Pill Emperor’s Memories!
With Ye Chen’s current cultivation, the Pill Emperor’s Memories were like three thousand rivers of weak water; he could only take a single scoop. Through the fragmented starlight emanating from the Pill Emperor’s memory river, Ye Chen witnessed some incredibly awe-inspiring alchemy scenes. Whether it was the Path of Spirit Fire, herbology, or refining techniques, that Pill Emperor had achieved astonishing proficiency, causing Ye Chen’s mind and body to tremble. Ye Chen naturally couldn’t bear the full brunt of this memory cluster yet, but with Yao Yan’s assistance, he could tap into a tributary! His heart was overflowing with uncontainable excitement.
His Master’s casual gesture yielded such a terrifying gift! It was too shocking!
Ye Chen realized that from the moment Lu Xuan accepted him as a disciple until now, his Master had bestowed countless treasures upon him, yet never once asked for anything in return. He was simply too selfless! At this thought, a powerful willpower took root in Ye Chen’s heart: he must work harder, become stronger, ascend to the cultivation peak, and repay his Master!
A short while later, Ye Chen calmed his aura and slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Lu Xuan, his face filled with emotion. “Thank you, Master!”
Lu Xuan nodded. “Next, there are still two months until the Pill Refining Exchange Conference. You should prepare thoroughly.”
“Understood,” Ye Chen replied.
Lu Xuan looked at Yao Yan. “Elder Yao, I’ll trouble you to guide him again during this time.”
Yao Yan waved his hand repeatedly. “Don’t mention it, don’t mention it.”
Lu Xuan chuckled. “Alright, Ye Chen, during the coming period, while you’re refining pills, don’t forget your martial arts cultivation, either.”
“Master, I understand,” Ye Chen said.
With that, Ye Chen took his leave from Lu Xuan. He couldn’t wait to return to his cave dwelling to examine the Pill Emperor’s Memories!
Back in his cave dwelling, Yao Yan immediately floated out. He spoke with a hint of shock. “Chen’er, I discovered something else astonishing in your Master’s cave dwelling just now.”
“What is it?” Ye Chen asked.
“Your Master’s cave dwelling contained a trace of Ancient Great Medicine aura!” Yao Yan affirmed. “There’s absolutely no mistake!”
Ye Chen stood dumbfounded. Ancient Great Medicine! This was a treasure even Great Emperors yearned for! His Master actually possessed such an item!
Yao Yan sighed lightly. “Chen’er, your Master is truly unfathomable. Not only is his cultivation heaven-reaching, but his inner reserves are also incredibly deep! I now suspect his reserves surpass our entire Yao Family’s!”
“What?!” Ye Chen exclaimed, completely astonished. The Yao Family was an Overlord-level Power in the Southern Wilds, having spanned several epochs in the region’s long history, with immeasurable reserves. Yet, Elder Yao actually believed his Master was more terrifying than the Yao Family?
Yao Yan’s voice trembled. “At least in my Yao Family, we would never casually bestow such terrifying Emperor-tier treasures!” Lu Xuan had completely overturned his understanding! When did Emperor-tier treasures become as common as cabbage? Yao Yan leaned in, speaking with a mysterious air. “Chen’er, I speculate your Master has actually cultivated for tens of thousands of years, or even longer. The reason he maintains his youthful appearance is by continuously consuming Ancient Great Medicine!”
Ye Chen was stunned on the spot. His Master seemed so young; he never imagined he was an old monster who had cultivated for tens of thousands of years! In that moment, Ye Chen’s awe and respect for Lu Xuan deepened even further!
Yao Yan sighed with emotion. “In the Southern Wilds, Overlord-level Powers are not the Ultimate Realm, but I believe your Master has already entered the ranks of the Ultimate Realm! Who would have thought the Grand Dao Sect hid such a reclusive, supreme expert!”
Ye Chen nodded. “The key is that Master is simply too low-key. He’d rather be misunderstood than step out of Azure Mystery Peak.”
Yao Yan’s face was filled with reverence. “This is a true powerhouse, transcendent and detached from worldly affairs.”
A look of longing appeared on Ye Chen’s face. He could never finish learning from his Master, simply couldn’t!
Yao Yan looked at Ye Chen. “There are still two months until the Pill Refining Exchange Conference. Major powers like the Supreme Profound Sect, the Yao Family, the Pill Fragrance Sect, and Cangmu Academy will all be attending. It’s a grand feast for alchemy geniuses, so you must perform well and bring glory to your Master!”
Ye Chen nodded heavily. “I’ll do my best.”
On the path of alchemy, Ye Chen was already a Xuan-tier alchemist. While after Xuan-tier came Earth-tier and Heaven-tier, the path ahead would only become more challenging! However, now that he possessed the Pill Emperor’s Memories, he had absolute confidence to shine brightly in the Dao of Alchemy!
Yao Yan suddenly frowned. “Perhaps Nangong Baixue will also arrive at the Grand Dao Sect.”
Ye Chen’s expression turned cold. “She and I are no longer connected.”
Yao Yan nodded and sighed. “Chen’er, I was worried about whether to pass on the Yao Family’s alchemy techniques, but now with the Pill Emperor’s Memories, everything is resolved.”
“Master is too thoughtful,” Ye Chen said.
With that, Ye Chen sat cross-legged and began to comprehend the Pill Emperor’s Memories. Yao Yan activated a Supreme Secret Art of the Yao Family, helping Ye Chen continuously refine the vast memories. These memories were like a river descending from the heavens, flowing down ninety thousand miles; even Yao Yan’s Quasi-Emperor soul felt an intense palpitation from their sheer force. In that moment, both Yao Yan and Ye Chen’s divine consciousnesses were like small boats, tossing and turning in the torrential flood of the Pill Emperor’s Memories.
Yao Yan exclaimed repeatedly. “One can refine pills like this? Truly astonishing!”
Ye Chen’s mind and body trembled even more. “Terrifying beyond compare!”
The two tirelessly comprehended.
***
Blackflame Mountain Range.
Boundless spirit wood formed a majestic sea, shrouding the continuous mountains. Deep within the range, countless spirit beasts roared, and an eerie mist drifted above the vast peaks, making the Blackflame Mountain Range appear incredibly mysterious.
Ji Fuyao, in a crimson fiery long dress, her figure ethereal, had already descended upon the Dragon Guards’ territory. Imperial Commander Wang Man and Qing Yan, along with others, immediately rushed forward to greet her. “Empress!”
Ji Fuyao slightly tilted her fair neck, giving a faint nod.
Wang Man and the others ushered Ji Fuyao into a pavilion. Once everyone was seated, Qing Yan frowned slightly and began to report on the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
“Empress, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion’s attitude is too disappointing. Even after I showed your token, the Pavilion Master still claimed not to believe you had returned.”
Wang Man said coldly, “That’s just an excuse. I observe that the Drunken Immortal Pavilion is flourishing in Cangzhou and has connections with several major powers in the region. They simply refuse to return to our Fuyao Dynasty!”
Ji Fuyao asked thoughtfully, “Who is in charge of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion now?”
“Wei Yan, the former General who Guards the North of the dynasty!” Qing Yan replied.
Wang Man added, “Empress, I always knew Wei Yan had a rebellious streak; he was bound to betray us! And now, it’s proven!”
Qing Yan waved her hand and glared at Wang Man. “We can’t be so certain yet.”
Wang Man gritted his teeth, muttering, “That damned Wei Yan! He took most of our Fuyao Dynasty’s cultivation resources back then, which became their capital for rising in Cangzhou. Now that they’ve risen, they’re turning their backs on us.”
Ji Fuyao said lightly, “Once I reach the Profound Saint Realm, I will go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.”
“Profound Saint Realm!”
Qing Yan and Wang Man exchanged glances, shocked. Ji Fuyao was currently only at Third-stage Profound Venerate. To reach the Profound Saint Realm, even with the Empress’s terrifying talent, it would take several years, or even longer, wouldn’t it?
Qing Yan nodded. “The Empress is absolutely right. We cannot act rashly; we must plan carefully! In a few years, once the Empress reaches Profound Saint, we can go to Cangzhou!”
Ji Fuyao smiled. “It won’t take that long. Two months will be enough!”
At her words, the many Dragon Guards were stunned. Two months to go from Third-stage Profound Venerate to Profound Saint Realm? How was that possible?
Ji Fuyao extended her slender hand, and a fist-sized red cube, the Dao of Fire Principle, slowly appeared in her palm. Instantly, the entire pavilion became incredibly scorching; terrifying spirit fire pressure poured out like a tsunami, and a truly terrifying aura suddenly emerged. All the Dragon Guards, even Half-Emperors and Quasi-Emperors, felt an intense palpitation upon seeing this Dao of Fire Principle. The crimson cube seemed to conceal a fire abyss, a blazing sun, its power reaching the heavens!
Qing Yan and Wang Man stood up in shock! Their voices trembled. “Empress, this, this is…” They felt the power of the primal spirit fire! That was something only true Great Emperors could grasp!
Ji Fuyao smiled faintly. “This is the Dao of Fire Principle my Master gifted me!”