“Where did that kid Ye Chen pick up these tricks? He only learns the bad habits, not the good ones!” the Heaven-tier Alchemists grumbled internally, still reeling from the 'riddle game' Ye Chen had played to protect his master’s identity.
Yet, in their eyes, a mere one million high-grade Spirit Stones was nothing. The profound insights into the Dao of Alchemy they had gained from Ye Chen’s words were truly priceless!
Finally, Yao Baili descended upon Azure Mystery Peak and stepped into Lu Xuan’s cave dwelling.
Yao Baili looked at Ye Chen with a mysterious air and tentatively asked, “Ye Chen, your alchemy talent is exceptional. Could it be that your father and mother were also alchemists?”
Ye Chen smiled faintly. “Senior Baili, don’t you already know my mother?”
Yao Baili’s expression shifted slightly, and he lowered his voice. “Lu Peak Master is here; it’s inconvenient for me to speak.”
Ye Chen was momentarily stunned. “My Master knows about this matter.”
Yao Baili looked at Lu Xuan with confusion, and Lu Xuan returned a warm, casual smile.
At that moment, the jade pendant on Ye Chen’s chest flashed, and Yao Yan’s voice slowly emerged. “Yao Baili, I didn’t expect it to be you leading the team to the Grand Dao Sect?”
Yao Baili frowned deeply. “Senior, who are you?”
Yao Yan replied, “Yao Family, Yao Yan.”
Yao Baili’s expression changed drastically. “Old Ancestor, what is your current situation?”
Yao Yan immediately recounted the events of that year to Yao Baili.
Upon hearing the tale, Yao Baili’s face turned ashen. “Old Ancestor, no wonder after more than a decade, your soul lamp never extinguished, yet our lineage never received any word from you.”
Ye Chen asked, his voice tight, “Senior Baili, how is my mother now?”
Yao Baili sighed heavily. “Your mother, Yao Liuli, is still being punished in the Sin Valley!”
Ye Chen’s body trembled at the news, and he clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. “It’s only because I am too weak now that my mother has to endure such suffering!”
Yao Baili looked at Ye Chen and said earnestly, “Chen’er, I truly shouldn’t have told you this. You don’t understand the full foundation of the Yao Family. Even if you were to reach the One-star Great Emperor realm, you would still be unable to shake the Yao Family in the slightest.”
Ye Chen gritted his teeth. “I will work harder!”
Yao Baili warned, “Chen’er, remember not to act rashly. This current situation was bought at a huge cost by your mother’s lineage!”
Ye Chen’s face was pale. “I understand.”
Yao Baili then turned to Yao Yan. “Old Ancestor, who do you think used a fragment of a Great Emperor Formation Pattern to force you into the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone back then?”
Yao Yan’s voice was laced with pure resentment. “It must have been the Saint Son’s lineage!”
It was well known that the Saint Son and Saint Daughter lineages in the Yao Family had always been at odds. Originally, they were meant to be in competition, but over the years, deep resentment had festered between the two lines. When Ye Chen’s mother, Yao Liuli, violated the family rules as the Saint Daughter, the Saint Son’s lineage certainly seized the opportunity to add insult to injury!
Yao Yan said coldly, “This time, they went too far!”
Yao Baili cautioned, “Chen’er cannot be exposed now. If the Saint Son’s lineage finds out, Chen’er and the Ye Family will surely perish.”
Yao Yan chuckled. “Have you forgotten Lu Peak Master? If the Saint Son’s lineage dares to rely on their power to bully others, Lu Peak Master will definitely intervene! At that time, it will likely be a bloodbath, a massacre that turns the sky dark and makes rivers of blood flow. However, I don’t wish for it to reach that point, as the Yao Family would likely suffer a great loss of vitality!”
Yao Baili looked at Lu Xuan with utter shock.
Yao Yan had just told him that it was Lu Xuan who had effortlessly suppressed the trace of Ominous Power within Ye Chen’s body! Moreover, Ye Chen’s current meteoric rise could be entirely attributed to the gifts bestowed by Lu Xuan!
Lu Xuan simply smiled at Yao Baili.
Yao Baili’s voice trembled as he spoke. “Lu Peak Master, please forgive my poor judgment; I apologize to you. For all these years, many people in the Southern Wilds have ridiculed you, and I was one of them.”
Lu Xuan: “…”
At that moment, Ye Chen interjected, “Senior Baili, my Master is extremely low-profile; he won’t take these trivial matters to heart. With my Master’s true strength, if he were truly to settle scores, the Southern Wilds would likely run red with blood.”
Yao Baili was secretly terrified and scrutinized Lu Xuan carefully. The more he looked, the more his heart trembled! He couldn’t see through Lu Xuan’s cultivation at all!
How could he have known? The person before him was a supreme magnate capable of suppressing even the Ominous Power! And for so many years, he had endured ridicule without ever retaliating. Now Yao Baili understood. Lu Xuan simply disdained it! He was supernaturally detached, an existence far beyond his comprehension!
Yao Baili couldn’t help but recall Lu Xuan’s behavior these past few days. Lu Xuan had been sleeping; it meant he was simply too bored! Since he could casually utter such profound, world-shaking alchemy theories, it was clear Lu Xuan’s mastery had already reached the pinnacle!
With this thought, Yao Baili looked at Ye Chen. “Chen’er, may I see that Ominous Power?”
Ye Chen glanced at Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan nodded faintly.
Ye Chen took out the Grand Dao Lock and handed it to Yao Baili.
Yao Baili stared at the ancient chain lock before him. Endless, brilliant Dao patterns flashed on its surface, and an obscure, ancient aura flowed from it. Inside the chain’s inner space, mysterious black mist constantly shifted shape, causing his heart to tremble uncontrollably.
“Is this the Ominous Power?” Yao Baili was utterly shocked and quickly returned the Grand Dao Lock to Ye Chen.
Ye Chen’s expression was one of profound recollection. “All of this is thanks to Master’s arrival, which helped me suppress the Ominous Power.”
Yao Baili suppressed the tidal wave of emotion in his heart and looked at Ye Chen. “Chen’er, I was originally worried about your mother. Now it seems that with a supreme magnate like your Master present, the Yao Family’s affairs are merely a small matter. If Lu Peak Master were to act directly, even if all the Yao Family Old Ancestors came forth, they might not be able to stop him!”
Lu Xuan’s face twitched.
This, this, this…
Unbeknownst to him, he had become a god-like, invincible existence in the hearts of Ye Chen and the others! Since this was the case, he could only continue to keep up the act.
At that moment, Ye Chen reminded Yao Baili, “Senior Baili. Regarding my Master’s invincibility, it’s best if you just know it and absolutely do not tell a second person! My Master is extremely low-profile and does not wish to expose too much.”
Yao Baili nodded heavily, his expression solemn.
Not long after, Yao Baili departed. A tidal wave of realization surged in his heart! Coming to the Grand Dao Sect this time, he had learned so many earth-shattering secrets!
***
Two days later, all the Heaven-tier Alchemists who had participated in the discussions came to Azure Mystery Peak. They left very satisfied, their minds filled with profound insights.
With the departure of these Heaven-tier Alchemists from the sect, the Pill Refining Exchange Conference was considered a complete success. The many elders and disciples of the Grand Dao Sect were incredibly excited. Who would have thought that Ye Chen would become the most dazzling existence at the conference? It was simply too heaven-defying! Whether it was his mastery of spirit herbs, soul power, or alchemy, he had completely crushed the prodigies of the Yao Family and the Pill Fragrance Sect!
Everyone discussed animatedly.
“Junior Brother Ye Chen’s soul power could withstand more than a dozen Supreme Profound Sect disciples; it’s terrifying! He instantly killed more than a dozen disciples! Nangong Baixue would have died if Pill Saint Yunyang hadn’t intervened!”
“Before we knew it, Lu Peak Master already has two disciples. And they are both heaven-defying monsters!”
“Could it be that Lu Peak Master really has a knack for teaching disciples?”
“Nonsense! It’s only because Ye Chen and Ji Fuyao have powerful protectors guiding them in the background. Lu Peak Master? He’s just a master in name only, riding on their coattails.”
***
On Azure Mystery Peak, Lu Xuan was leisurely lying on his Profound Ice Bed.
The System’s voice suddenly appeared.
“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the limited-time disciple cultivation quest!”
“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for receiving a massive cultivation foundation boost!”
“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for acquiring a Three-star Emperor Weapon: the Dao Profound Iron Pot!”
“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for acquiring a Heaven and Earth Wonder: the Azure Nether Celestial Water!”
“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for acquiring one Five-star Great Emperor Experience Card!”
The voice faded, and a majestic cultivation foundation surged into Lu Xuan’s body, impacting his limbs and bones like a great river. His Dantian gathered energy like a vast, converging sea.
His cultivation soared!
Four-star Profound Saint initial stage!
Four-star Profound Saint middle stage!
…
Five-star Profound Saint initial stage!
The tingling sensation of the cultivation surging through his inner world made Lu Xuan’s body tremble slightly. This feeling was simply too comfortable!
Next, with a thought, a pitch-black iron pot appeared before Lu Xuan.
He was immediately dumbfounded. What a huge black pot!
If it weren’t for the terrifying Dao patterns inscribed on its surface, Lu Xuan would have seriously doubted if this was an Emperor Weapon.
The System explained, “This is for the convenience of the Host when cooking. In the future, using this Dao Profound Iron Pot to cook can infuse ‘Dao and Essence’ into the food.”
Lu Xuan chuckled. “Now that’s interesting! I’ll just leave this massive pot on Azure Mystery Peak.”
The System warned, “Be careful not to let anyone steal it.”
Lu Xuan: “…”
The System added, “This System has inscribed supreme Dao patterns into the Dao Profound Iron Pot; only when cooking can it display its profound power! How about that, isn’t this System thoughtful?”
Lu Xuan replied concisely, “Thoughtful.”
He put away the Dao Profound Iron Pot and took out an ancient jar. The jar itself was just an ordinary One-star Emperor Weapon, but inside it contained the Heaven and Earth Wonder, Azure Nether Celestial Water!
What was Azure Nether Celestial Water? It was born in the world’s most mystical places, saturated with the ultimate principles of Heaven and Earth, and filled with 'Dao and Essence.' After countless ages of precipitation, this water was born, making it the physical manifestation of the ultimate principles of Heaven and Earth. Every single drop was priceless!
If this jar of Azure Nether Celestial Water were exposed, several Overlord-level Powers in the Southern Wilds would directly descend upon the Grand Dao Sect, not hesitating to wage war to obtain it! A single drop could be auctioned off at the Heaven-tier level outside, yet Lu Xuan had a whole jar!
Azure Nether Celestial Water could fundamentally transform a cultivator’s body, soul, Dao Foundation, bones, and blood—a complete, inside-out transformation.
Lu Xuan said faintly, “This Azure Nether Celestial Water would be suitable for cooking.” By then, the talents of Ye Chen and Ji Fuyao would become even more heaven-defying, and their cultivation speed would be faster!
Lu Xuan picked up the jar and took a sip of the water.
“Hmm…”
It was colorless and tasteless. His body seemed to undergo a subtle change, but the feeling vanished instantly.
Lu Xuan frowned slightly. “Doesn’t Azure Nether Celestial Water completely transform a cultivator’s talent? Why didn’t I feel anything?”
The System replied, “The Host’s physique is too trash. Drinking this entire jar of Azure Nether Celestial Water might not even help.”
Lu Xuan was utterly shocked. What the hell?
A Congenital Cultivation Waste Body!?
Heaven had closed his window and welded the door shut! Lu Xuan wanted to cry but had no tears. Fortunately, he had the System; otherwise, he really couldn’t handle this! What was the point of cultivating then?
He realized that in the future, all the good stuff must go to the disciples! If he gave it to his disciples, he could lie flat and reap immense profits. If he enjoyed it himself, it would all be wasted, bringing absolutely no benefit!
Putting away the Azure Nether Celestial Water, Lu Xuan began to examine the Five-star Great Emperor Experience Card! This was a truly excellent item! He still had a One-star Great Emperor Experience Card unused in his System space, too!