"Master, I apologize. I ate too slowly."

Lu Xuan chuckled. "It seems you still can't handle that much Azure Nether Celestial Water. Use less next time."

"Understood," Ye Chen replied.

He immediately prepared another meal, seamlessly continuing his 'cultivation through cooking.'

After tidying up the hut, Ye Chen said, "Master, I feel absolutely brimming with power! I'll head back to my cave to cultivate now!"

Lu Xuan nodded. "Go on."

Soon after, Ye Chen returned to his dwelling and immediately activated the Restriction seals. He calmed his mind and began cultivating the Desolate Heaven Art.

Clad in white, he sat cross-legged, radiating a faint divine brilliance, surrounded by a mountain of high-grade Spirit Stones. He recalled the recent Pill Refining Exchange Conference, where he had used Soul Combat and unleashed the Desolate Heaven Art. The sheer, tyrannical killing power had been terrifying, suppressing all sides. Even now, the memory made his heart pound. That was his first time using the Desolate Heaven Art to kill an enemy, and the overwhelming aura and battle intent were truly shocking.

Ye Chen murmured, "I am the Desolate Heaven Emperor. I shall suppress all enemies in the world!"

It was an unyielding, immortal Will—an 'Invincible Heart.' Whether in the present, the past, or the future, this invincible posture pierced the river of time, an unshakeable figure standing eternal.

With that thought, Ye Chen changed his spiritual seals and began circulating the Desolate Heaven Art. Instantly, the high-grade Spirit Stones dissolved into vast, surging spiritual energy that poured into his body. He quickly touched upon a trace of the Desolate Heaven Art's 'Dao and Essence.' The first requirement was the 'Invincible Heart' and an unyielding Willpower. Absolute confidence was key. To harbor even a shred of fear meant losing the qualification to cultivate the Desolate Heaven Art. After all, its creator was a figure who stood alone through the ages, crushing all enemies in the world! Ye Chen knew the version he practiced was incomplete, but the full version surely surpassed the six-star Emperor-tier.

Soon, Ye Chen entered a profound state of cultivation. Brilliant divine radiance emanated from him; his flesh shone like starlight, his bones crystalline, giving him an ethereal, transcendent appearance, like a divine scion descending to the mortal world. Massive amounts of cultivation foundation surged into his Dantian.

***

Meanwhile, Lu Xuan lay back in his chair on Azure Mystery Peak, watching the clouds drift across the sky, changing like fleeting shadows. Just then, the System's voice chimed.

"Ding! Host's second disciple, Ye Chen, is cultivating! Beginning cultivation synchronization!"

"Ding! Host's second disciple is comprehending the Desolate Heaven Art! Beginning synchronization!"

Instantly, a massive torrent of cultivation foundation surged into Lu Xuan's body! Along with it came the profound insights of the Desolate Heaven Art! The feeling was utterly sublime.

Suddenly, Lu Xuan thought of Ji Fuyao. He murmured, "Fuyao took a three-month sect mission. Two months have passed already. I wonder how her matters are progressing." He checked Ji Fuyao's System panel. She was still at the One-star Profound Saint initial stage.

Just then, the Transmission Jade Slip in his robe vibrated. Lu Xuan injected spiritual power. The Sect Master's voice slowly emerged.

"Lu Xuan, I hear you managed to fleece quite a few cultivation resources from those Heaven-tier Alchemists?"

Lu Xuan gave a faint smile. "Just a few Saint Soldiers and ten million high-grade Spirit Stones, nothing major."

The Sect Master's face twitched. "You scoundrel, to snatch resources from an alchemist as notoriously tight-fisted as Elder Cang Li—that's a skill in itself."

Lu Xuan replied, "They gained far more profound insights from Ye Chen."

The Sect Master asked, "Oh, right, has Fuyao sent back any news from her training?"

Lu Xuan shook his head. "No."

The Sect Master cautioned, "If anything happens with either Fuyao or Ye Chen, you must inform me immediately. Even with their protectors, we can't be careless. Especially now that Ye Chen has made an enemy of Nangong Baixue. Tell him to be extra vigilant going forward."

"I know," Lu Xuan said.

***

Supreme Profound Sect.

Boom!

Pill Saint Yunyang piloted the Ancient Spirit Boat, tearing through the void as he returned to the Supreme Profound Sect. The Sect Master, Wei Qianhan, immediately rose into the air, smiling as he greeted him. "Yunyang, why the early return—"

He stopped abruptly, seeing the severely injured Nangong Baixue cradled in the Pill Saint's arms. Wei Qianhan's expression darkened. "Yunyang, what happened? Where are the rest of our disciples?"

Pill Saint Yunyang's eyes were bloodshot, and he ground his teeth. "Except for Nangong Baixue, they are all dead!"

Wei Qianhan frowned deeply. "What in the world? Who dared to attack the disciples of my Supreme Profound Sect?" A dozen alchemy prodigies had gone! To be annihilated just like that? The loss was catastrophic!

Pill Saint Yunyang roared, "It was the Grand Dao Sect's disciple, Ye Chen! Sect Master, send word to the Qin Family now. Nangong Baixue's soul and body are severely damaged. I've sealed her injuries, but she won't last long."

Hearing this, Wei Qianhan produced an ancient jade slip and injected his divine sense. "Patriarch Qin Qian, Nangong Baixue's soul and body are severely injured. Please come to the Supreme Profound Sect immediately! Rest assured, we will have the best physicians treat her."

Qin Qian, the Qin Family Patriarch, responded coldly, "What happened? Who dares to attack my Qin Family's fiancée?" Nangong Baixue was the designated fiancée of the Ancient Qin Family! Her Primordial Yin Body was of immense use to Qin Xiao!

Wei Qianhan said flatly, "We will discuss this when you arrive." With that, Wei Qianhan cut the transmission and flew toward the main hall with Nangong Baixue. Pill Saint Yunyang immediately sent a message to Qin Xiao.

Many powerful figures soon descended upon the main hall. Qin Xiao, his face contorted with rage and killing intent, strode into the hall, his brocade robes billowing. "That trash Ye Chen! How dare he lay a hand on Baixue? He's courting death!"

Qin Xiao's master, Profound Radiance Saint King, a figure in grey robes, also entered, his face icy cold.

Seeing the gravely injured Nangong Baixue, everyone's fury erupted. "Does the Grand Dao Sect not respect our Supreme Profound Sect at all?"

Pill Saint Yunyang sneered. "Gu Yuefang actually tried to detain me and demanded an explanation!"

Hearing this, Wei Qianhan gritted his teeth, trembling with anger. He flicked his sleeve, stomped his foot hard on the ground, and roared, "Outrageous! This is absolutely outrageous!"

Profound Radiance Saint King radiated a faint divine light, killing intent spilling from his body. "When has our Supreme Profound Sect ever suffered such humiliation? How dare the Grand Dao Sect, as the host, rely on their power to bully others!"

Just then, a grey-robed old man slowly entered the hall. He looked weathered and emaciated, seemingly frail with every step.

Seeing him, everyone bowed respectfully. "Old Ancestor Yuan Qingzi!"

Old Ancestor Yuan Qingzi was an Emperor-tier expert of the Supreme Profound Sect, having attained the Great Emperor realm through the Path of Medicine. His medical attainments were heaven-defying. A saying once circulated throughout the Southern Wilds: "I, Yuan Qingzi, can save your life, or take it!" That was the tyrannical reputation Yuan Qingzi held during his peak. Though time had passed, Yuan Qingzi had long since retired and no longer traveled the Southern Wilds.

Sect Master Wei Qianhan said, "We implore the Old Ancestor to intervene and save Nangong Baixue."

Everyone slowly retreated behind Yuan Qingzi.

Yuan Qingzi approached Nangong Baixue, bent down, and placed his withered, branch-like hand on her wrist. Boom! A pale green divine radiance surged from Yuan Qingzi. Mysterious Dao patterns flickered across his wide sleeves, and a profound power spread through the main hall, refreshing and soothing like a spring breeze.

A moment later, Yuan Qingzi slowly spoke. "She was severely wounded by a soul attack. The backlash from the soul energy nearly destroyed all of Baixue's meridians!" He paused. "The attacker's cultivation realm may not be high, but they possess supreme killing power."

Qin Xiao immediately bowed. "Old Ancestor, please save Baixue no matter the cost. My Qin Family will pay any price."

Yuan Qingzi smiled faintly. "As long as I am here, if they are not yet dead, I can extend their life! Do not worry, it will only cost one Emperor-tier elixir." As he spoke, an Emperor-tier elixir appeared in his hand. Alongside it were several Quasi-Emperor tier elixirs and a dozen Half-Emperor tier elixirs, with countless others below that rank.

Yuan Qingzi instructed, "You need not wait here. Your presence will only distract me." Hearing this, Wei Qianhan and the others quietly left the main hall.

Yuan Qingzi produced an ancient iron furnace and began feeding the spirit herbs into it one by one. He sat cross-legged, spiritual seals shifting in his hands. Mysterious Dao patterns surged around him, and a brilliant divine radiance illuminated the main hall, as if a giant sun had risen within.

Three days later, Yuan Qingzi refined a batch of white, viscous medicinal liquid. He gently lifted Nangong Baixue and slowly channeled a warm, gentle power into her body. Nangong Baixue's inner world was severely damaged, resembling a dilapidated ancient palace or a crumbling city wall—a truly horrific sight. But as the power entered her, it was like continuous spring rain nourishing her body. Her body, like parched earth receiving water, slowly began to revive. Before long, Yuan Qingzi moved his divine sense. Nangong Baixue's pale lips parted slightly, and with a flick of his sleeve, a stream of the white, viscous liquid was sent into her mouth. As the profound medicinal liquid surged through her, her body began to undergo a transformation. Her entire network of meridians was reviving! Her damaged soul was rapidly reforming!

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a hint of color returned to Nangong Baixue's face. She struggled to open her eyes, looking at Yuan Qingzi. "W-where am I... Am I dead?"

Seeing this, Yuan Qingzi addressed the outside of the hall. "You may all enter now."

The moment his voice fell, Sect Master Wei Qianhan, Pill Saint Yunyang, Qin Xiao, and others stepped into the main hall. The Qin Family Patriarch also entered. Seeing Nangong Baixue awake, everyone was utterly astonished. Truly worthy of Old Ancestor Yuan Qingzi, whose medical Dao was heaven-defying! He had actually brought Nangong Baixue back from the brink of death!

The Qin Family Patriarch bowed to Yuan Qingzi and produced a Storage Ring. "Thank you for your assistance, Senior. This ring contains two Emperor-tier elixirs and other Quasi-Emperor tier elixirs. Please accept them!"

Yuan Qingzi waved a hand dismissively, not accepting the ring. "It is nothing. Baixue will require several months of rest to fully recover. I will continue to refine medicinal liquid for her."

The Qin Family Patriarch declared, "Senior Yuan Qingzi, the Qin Family will provide all the necessary elixirs from now on!"

Yuan Qingzi nodded. "Very well."

Qin Xiao immediately rushed to Nangong Baixue's side. Her eyes had cleared, and she gripped Qin Xiao's hand, gritting her teeth. "Qin Xiao, you must kill Ye Chen... cough, cough... Kill Ye Chen!"