"Yao Old, is Yao Baili Senior a close acquaintance of yours?" Ye Chen asked.
Yao Yan chuckled. "He is an Elder from your mother's lineage, and he is also one of my juniors. I even guided Yao Baili in alchemy back in the day."
Ye Chen was slightly surprised.
"Yao Baili has likely recognized you," Yao Yan continued. "After the Pill Refining Exchange Conference concludes, you can certainly ask him about your mother's situation."
Ye Chen's voice trembled. "My mother..."
He couldn't recall her face, knowing only from Yao Yan's fragmented words that his mother possessed peerless beauty and extraordinary grace.
"Alright, for now, focus on listening to these alchemists Discussing the Dao," Yao Yan said calmly.
Over the next three days, several Heaven-tier Alchemists took turns elucidating their philosophies on alchemy. The final speaker was Pill Saint Yunyang of the Supreme Profound Sect. Nangong Baixue and her peers watched with palpable excitement.
Pill Saint Yunyang, clad in a grey robe, conjured a Quasi-Emperor tier furnace. He refined pills while expounding on his theories. Wisps of pill smoke drifted, shrouding the Pill Saint in a mystical fog that made him appear truly transcendent. His sharing of insights and experience drew gasps of admiration from the crowd.
Hours later, Pill Saint Yunyang offered a summary. "I believe that the path of alchemy, besides requiring talent, demands a strong mindset and, most importantly, diligence. No one can simply lie flat and expect their alchemy skills to improve."
The crowd nodded in agreement.
Lu Xuan, who had been dozing, snapped awake. Oh, now he's talking about me! he thought, slightly amused. But seriously, I am literally lying flat and improving my alchemy skills right now!
Finally, Pill Saint Yunyang shared a concept from an ancient text he had recently read. "Fellow Daoists, what do you believe is the ultimate goal of alchemy?"
The crowd buzzed with speculation.
"The ultimate goal is simply to refine pills of the highest possible grade!"
"Those peak Heaven-tier pills, condensed under the tempering of divine lightning—surely that is the ultimate goal?"
"Heaven-tier is not the limit; there must be even more profound elixirs beyond it!"
Listening to the discussion, Pill Saint Yunyang smiled faintly. "The ancient text I read described a pill that surpassed the Heaven-tier. This pill had developed sentience and taken a human form—the appearance of a grey-robed elder."
With a flick of his sleeve, Pill Saint Yunyang used spirit runes to project the pill's image into the air. A grey-robed elder materialized above them: a Humanoid Pill!
Everyone was stunned. This was beyond their wildest comprehension. Could such a sentient Humanoid Pill truly exist? If one were to consume it, could they shatter the Great Emperor boundary and reach the legendary Ultimate Realm?
Lu Xuan’s mouth curved slightly. To be honest, the appearance of that grey-robed elder reminded him of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. Though, that pill was just an Emperor Pill prototype...
From the high platform, Pill Saint Yunyang smiled. "Therefore, I believe we alchemists must broaden our horizons. If our vision is limited, our alchemy will stagnate."
A tidal wave of excitement surged through the crowd. The concept of the Humanoid Pill had ignited a fervent passion in every alchemist present. This conference had already been worth attending!
Pill Saint Yunyang looked out at the audience. "Fellow Daoists, do any of you have a superior view on the ultimate goal of alchemy?"
The hall fell silent. The revelation of the Humanoid Pill had left everyone too stunned to speak. Nothing could be more exciting than that.
Ye Chen looked toward Lu Xuan, hoping his master would share his earth-shattering alchemy theories. But Lu Xuan looked languid and detached, as if the entire event had nothing to do with him. Ye Chen hesitated, then resolved that his Master's profound wisdom should not be buried! He had to vindicate his Master!
With that thought, Ye Chen stood up. "Cloud Yang Senior, I have something to say."
Instantly, all eyes turned to Ye Chen. What? Ye Chen has an alchemy theory?
In the Supreme Profound Sect's section, Nangong Baixue sneered coldly, rising to her feet. "Sit down! You can't even refine pills, what could you possibly say? Are you so desperate to show off? Don't make a fool of yourself!"
Ye Chen scoffed, ignoring Nangong Baixue completely. A brainless idiot!
Pill Saint Yunyang cleared his throat and waved his hand at Nangong Baixue. "Baixue, sit down. Let Little Friend Ye Chen speak."
In that moment, Ye Chen became the center of attention. Yao Baili watched Ye Chen with keen interest, eager to hear what he had to say.
Ye Chen looked up at the sky and slowly spoke. "Why should alchemy be confined to a mere furnace?"
He then recited the profound quote: "Let Heaven and Earth as Furnace be, with Creation as the craftsman; Yin and Yang as the fuel, and the myriad things as the bronze."
As the words fell, the hall plunged into dead silence. Everyone stared at Ye Chen in utter shock.
What kind of alchemy theory was this?
To take Heaven and Earth as the furnace!
Creation as the craftsman!
Yin and Yang as the fuel!
And the myriad things as the bronze!
Even a Great Emperor would likely be incapable of such a feat! The power of Heaven and Earth is vast, the hand of Creation is mysterious, the Qi of Yin and Yang is profound, and all things follow their own principles. Could these truly be integrated into a cosmic crucible?
A tidal wave of shock erupted in the hearts of all present. They meticulously chewed on the terrifying implications of Ye Chen's idea.
Suddenly, Nangong Baixue stood up again, pointing a slender finger at Ye Chen and sneering. "Heh. Do you even know what you're saying? 'Heaven and Earth as Furnace'... you're just being ridiculously exaggerated! You're spouting nonsense just to grab attention!"
As her voice faded, everyone glared at Nangong Baixue with intense fury. Damn that Nangong Baixue! She interrupted our enlightenment!
Heaven-tier Alchemist Cang Li immediately rose to his feet, letting out a cold snort. A wave of terrifying Saint King pressure shot toward Nangong Baixue.
BOOM!
Nangong Baixue was instantly thrown back hundreds of feet, crashing heavily onto the ground.
"Pfft!"
She spat out a mouthful of vital blood, staring at Cang Li in disbelief. She couldn't understand why Elder Cang Li had suddenly attacked her!
Cang Li's black robe billowed as he looked coldly at Pill Saint Yunyang. "Yunyang, control your disciple! Don't let her make a spectacle of herself here!"
The crowd was stunned. They never expected Elder Cang Li to personally step in and punish Nangong Baixue!
On the high platform, Pill Saint Yunyang’s face was livid. "Cang Li! My disciple is not yours to discipline!"
With a flick of his sleeve, Pill Saint Yunyang sent a gentle force into Nangong Baixue's body.
Nangong Baixue climbed to her feet, her face flushed crimson. "Thank you, Master!"
Pill Saint Yunyang looked at her. "Enough. Go back and stay silent."
Nangong Baixue bit her lip, wanting to protest, but held her tongue. She shot a look of intense resentment at Ye Chen! Her heart was now filled with murderous intent for him! It was all Ye Chen's fault that she had been publicly disgraced! Yet, she still couldn't understand why everyone was so shocked by what she considered nonsense.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A terrifying aura erupted in the hall. The pressure of Saint Kings and Profound Saints surged like an abyss.
Dan Xiangzi, Yao Baili, Gu Yuefang, and the other Heaven-tier Alchemists all stood up, their eyes burning with profound comprehension. "Ye Chen, continue."
Ye Chen was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected such a fierce reaction from the Heaven-tier Alchemists! He glanced at Lu Xuan, who maintained a calm, detached expression, as if nothing concerned him. Ye Chen sighed internally. Master's realm is simply too high!
He continued, "The ultimate goal of alchemy is to take the cosmos as the furnace, the Great Dao as the spirit herb, and the River of Time as the spirit fire, to refine all the heavens..."
At this, everyone was stunned once more.
To take the cosmos as the furnace!
The Great Dao as the spirit herb!
The River of Time as the spirit fire!
To refine all the heavens!
What an immense undertaking! Even a Great Emperor couldn't achieve this! But this philosophy of alchemy deeply shook their inner world. They felt as though they had touched upon a trace of something truly extraordinary!
Ye Chen was also excited by the expressions of the Heaven-tier Alchemists. This is Master's alchemy theory! It is truly astonishing!
Yao Yan's voice, trembling slightly, surfaced in Ye Chen's mind. "Lu Peak Master's words, no matter when one hears them, are utterly shocking!"
The crowd was enraptured. Although they were hundreds of thousands of miles away from the realm Ye Chen described, they had glimpsed the 'Dao' of the future.
Nangong Baixue frowned slightly. She couldn't understand why everyone was so shocked. Even her Master looked profoundly moved. Isn't Ye Chen just spouting nonsense? she muttered internally. I could say that, too! I could say I'll refine the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone into a pill, or refine the people of the Qingcheng Ye Family into a pill... who can't talk big?
A moment later, Elder Cang Li slowly opened his eyes and stepped into the air, descending directly in front of Ye Chen.
His face was withered, his wrinkles like deep ravines, and his eyes resembled shadowy abysses. Cang Li stared at Ye Chen with immense excitement, his voice trembling. "Is this... is this the ultimate goal of alchemy?"
Ye Chen shivered. Up close, Elder Cang Li was terrifying, like an old ghoul.
Ye Chen shook his head. "No."
Cang Li looked at him. "Then what is the ultimate goal of alchemy? Surely there is a supreme alchemist in this world who can achieve what you have described!"
Ye Chen spoke calmly.
"Ultimate? In the path of cultivation, in the Dao of alchemy, where is the ultimate end?"
"What is called the supreme, is merely the end of the road."
Elder Cang Li froze in place. He silently repeated the quote: "What is called the supreme, is merely the end of the road..."
The phrase was too profound!
Ye Chen looked excitedly at Lu Xuan. He never imagined his Master's casual theory could cause such a massive reaction! Master is simply too incredible! I could call him a god!
Lu Xuan watched Ye Chen's excitement, feeling utterly speechless. Wait. What the hell? When did Ye Chen memorize that quote verbatim? That was just a random thought I had! Now I have to keep up the act!
Suddenly, Elder Cang Li grabbed Ye Chen's hand, gripping it tightly enough to cause pain. "Tell me quickly! Who told you these words? I must meet him!"
Lu Xuan spoke faintly. "Hey, you're hurting my disciple."
Elder Cang Li shot Lu Xuan a dismissive glare. You, a mere Qi Refining stage cultivator, trying to butt in? I have no time for you!
Cang Li completely ignored Lu Xuan, though he did release Ye Chen's hand.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dozens of figures descended, instantly surrounding Ye Chen and Lu Xuan. They were all Heaven-tier Alchemists: Dan Xiangzi, Yao Baili, Gu Yuefang, and the others!
They looked down at Ye Chen, their faces alight with excitement.
Ye Chen was stunned. "Seniors, what is this?"
Dan Xiangzi smiled. "Ye Chen, who spoke these words? Can you introduce us?"