"Qin Xiao, you have to kill Ye Chen... coughing fit... you must avenge me!" Nangong Baixue’s voice was strained, her face pale with a mix of genuine pain and theatrical anguish.
Qin Xiao’s face twisted into a mask of endless killing intent. "Relax. That waste, Ye Chen? Killing him will be like stepping on an ant."
Yuan Qingzi, the Great Emperor of Medicine, spoke with a calm, ancient authority. "Ye Chen was able to use his soul force to kill over a dozen of our sect's geniuses. His soul power is clearly formidable. If you face him, be wary of his spiritual attacks!"
At that moment, Nangong Baixue painfully crawled up from the floor, letting out a heart-wrenching, theatrical wail. "Waaah! Waaah!" Tears, squeezed out through sheer effort, streamed down her face. She immediately dropped to her knees.
"During the alchemy competition that day, I was completely focused on refining my pill. Who could have known that Ye Chen would suddenly unleash a devastating Soul Combat attack on me!" she sobbed hysterically. "If my Senior Brothers and Sisters from the Supreme Profound Sect hadn't intervened, I would have perished instantly!"
Her voice rose to a fever pitch. "But that waste, Ye Chen, wasn't satisfied! He even joined forces with the Pill Peak disciples to attack us all! I cried and begged my Senior Brothers and Sisters to leave me—a worthless life, I told them, I deserve to die—but they refused! They merged their soul power to form a unified defense against Ye Chen and his allies!"
"Waaah! Waaah! But Ye Chen and his group were just too strong! They killed my Senior Brothers and Sisters one by one!" She beat her chest dramatically. "I have failed them! I have failed my Senior Brothers and Sisters!"
With a sudden, desperate lunge, Nangong Baixue began crawling toward one of the main hall’s ancient pillars. "They all perished, yet I still cling to life! I don't deserve to live! I can only atone for my sins by smashing my head against this pillar and dying!"
Seeing this dramatic display, Qin Xiao immediately rushed forward, embracing her tightly and pulling her away from the column.
Pill Saint Yunyang frowned slightly. This is... somewhat different from what Ye Chen claimed, he thought, recalling the brief, contemptuous exchange he’d had with the Grand Dao Sect disciple. But unfortunately, at the time of the incident, he had been completely lost in the profound enlightenment brought on by observing Ye Chen’s mysterious alchemy technique. By the time he was jolted awake, over a dozen Supreme Profound Sect disciples were already dead.
At this point, everyone turned to Pill Saint Yunyang. Yuan Qingzi asked, "Yunyang, what exactly transpired at that time?"
Pill Saint Yunyang’s face twitched. Under the gaze of a Great Emperor, he certainly couldn't admit that the tragedy occurred because he was too busy having an epiphany over a younger generation alchemist's technique. If he confessed that, the Great Emperor Yuan Qingzi would likely strike him down in a fit of rage for such an embarrassing display of negligence!
With this thought, Pill Saint Yunyang nodded gravely. "White Snow speaks the truth."
Qin Xiao clenched his fists, his voice ringing with righteous fury. "The Grand Dao Sect is pushing us too far! Do they think the Supreme Profound Sect and the Ancient Qin Family are without protectors?"
Yuan Qingzi spoke slowly. "White Snow's account should be accurate. I have already examined her body and found residual soul energy from the other disciples. It seems our disciples, even when their consciousnesses were unified, still lost to the Grand Dao Sect." He turned to the Supreme Profound Sect Master. "Sect Master, how should we handle this matter?"
The Sect Master pondered for a moment. "I will personally make a trip to the Grand Dao Sect."
Nangong Baixue’s heart tightened with anxiety. She had lied. Only one sentence out of ten was true. What would she do if the Old Ancestor discovered the truth?
Yuan Qingzi noticed her distress. "White Snow, rest assured. No matter what, I will stand by you."
This was the reassurance Nangong Baixue needed.
Yuan Qingzi looked at the others. "The medicinal liquid still has ten days' worth of dosage. Continue to care for White Snow. I shall depart for the Grand Dao Sect now!"
With that, Yuan Qingzi stepped out of the main hall, his withered hand tearing the void.
Boom!
Yuan Qingzi stepped into the rift, traversing the vast distance of the Southern Wilds in a single stride!
Inside the main hall, Pill Saint Yunyang said coldly, "Ye Chen is a heartless killer. He cannot be allowed to live!" Any faint goodwill he once held for Ye Chen was now completely gone, replaced entirely by murderous intent. Over a dozen of his alchemy prodigies had died at Ye Chen’s hands—the culmination of years of his hard work! The debt of a master whose disciples were slain was irreconcilable!
The Qin Family Patriarch frowned deeply. "I didn't expect Ye Chen to not only recover his cultivation but also become an alchemy genius!"
Pill Saint Yunyang replied, "Ye Chen has a backer. I suspect it is a Pill Emperor."
The Qin Family Patriarch scoffed. "A Pill Emperor, you say?"
Pill Saint Yunyang added, "He also has a Quasi-Emperor protector."
The Qin Family Patriarch’s expression turned cold. "What kind of fortuitous encounter did Ye Chen stumble upon?"
Sect Master Wei Qianhan said, "Let's wait until Old Ancestor Yuan Qingzi returns before discussing this further."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Qin Xiao's face flushed slightly. "Sect Master, may Nangong Baixue stay at my cave dwelling for the time being?"
The Sect Master raised an eyebrow, seemingly understanding the implication, and looked toward Pill Saint Yunyang.
Pill Saint Yunyang asked, "Qin Xiao, you still need to prepare for the Divine Son Challenge. Will caring for White Snow not delay your cultivation?"
Qin Xiao shook his head. "It will not! I am already confident in winning the Divine Son Challenge! White Snow needs to recuperate now. If I cannot share hardship with her, how can I share a lifetime with her?"
Everyone was slightly stunned by his eloquent declaration. The Qin Family Patriarch nodded, greatly pleased. What a beautiful thing to say!
Nangong Baixue shed tears of gratitude. "Qin Xiao, you are so good to me..."
Before long, Qin Xiao brought Nangong Baixue back to Supreme Peak.
Back in his cave dwelling, Qin Xiao impatiently set up countless seals and restrictions. His breathing grew ragged as he carried Nangong Baixue to his purple-wutong wood bed.
Nangong Baixue’s face was flushed. "Qin Xiao, I want to give you..."
Qin Xiao understood immediately. His silk robes instantly turned to dust. He tore Nangong Baixue's elegant dress to shreds.
Looking at the alluring, snow-white body, Qin Xiao acted without restraint.
Her tongue was like a golden lotus.
Flowing.
Teasing.
After a few short breaths.
"Ah..." Qin Xiao let out a low groan, feeling utterly powerless and paralyzed, collapsing onto the bed.
Nangong Baixue lay on Qin Xiao's chest, her weight pressing down on him. She immediately returned to her singular focus. "Qin Xiao, you absolutely must kill that waste, Ye Chen!"
Qin Xiao gritted his teeth. "I will!"
***
Meanwhile, at the Grand Dao Sect's Azure Mystery Peak.
In the past few days, Ye Chen felt he had truly fallen in love with cooking. Preparing meals in the Dao Profound Iron Pot, and using the Azure Nether Celestial Water—a Heaven and Earth Wonder—gave him an immense sense of achievement!
Lu Xuan smiled faintly at this.
With the Dao Profound Iron Pot and the Azure Nether Celestial Water, Ye Chen's cultivation speed was skyrocketing! Moreover, Ye Chen's six-star Emperor-tier technique, the Desolate Heaven Art, had officially reached Minor Accomplishment!
Lu Xuan felt a quiet astonishment at the terrifying, unyielding will emanating from the Desolate Heaven Art. It was an 'Invincible Stance,' an absolute, overbearing confidence that could suppress all enemies in the world. It was hard to imagine the terrifying killing power that would erupt when Ye Chen cultivated the Desolate Heaven Art to its ultimate stage.
At this moment, Lu Xuan was lying on his recliner in front of the thatched hut, gazing at the white clouds in the sky. His heart was exceptionally peaceful.
A gentle breeze swept by, ruffling Lu Xuan's hair. This peaceful, 'lying flat' life also has a faint sense of happiness, he mused.
Inside the hut, Ye Chen was cooking. Suddenly, he spoke up. "Master, when will Senior Sister return? It’s already been over two months."
Lu Xuan replied, "Soon. Your Senior Sister took a three-month sect mission. She should be back any day now."
Ye Chen smiled. "I believe Senior Sister will be very surprised when she sees the Dao Profound Iron Pot and the Azure Nether Celestial Water."
Lu Xuan offered a faint smile.
Before long, Ye Chen brought out the meal. After they finished eating, Lu Xuan continued to lie down while Ye Chen, after tidying up the hut, rushed back to his cave dwelling to cultivate without stopping.
Watching Ye Chen's retreating figure, Lu Xuan couldn't help but sigh in admiration. Both of my disciples are the same! They cultivate without knowing what fatigue is! They work harder than a production team's donkey!
Just then, the System's voice chimed.
[Ding! Second Disciple Ye Chen is cultivating. Initiating cultivation synchronization!]
[Ding! Second Disciple Ye Chen has gained enlightenment in the Desolate Heaven Art. Initiating synchronization!]
Lu Xuan closed his eyes, beginning to enjoy the wonderful feeling of cultivation feedback and enlightenment feedback. Ah, this is the life.
***
At that very moment, a deafening roar echoed above the Grand Dao Sect.
The void tore open, and space twisted violently.
From the spatial rift stepped a hunched, elderly figure. He wore a simple grey robe draped over his small frame. Although the elder looked unremarkable, a faint Emperor's might flowed around him. As he descended step by step, brilliant Dao patterns emerged in the sky.
The visitor was none other than the Supreme Profound Sect's Old Ancestor, Yuan Qingzi!
In an instant, the Grand Dao Sect was alarmed.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Sect Master and the other elders transformed into streaks of lightning, their feet riding on surging divine rainbows as they shot into the sky. Countless divine senses and spiritual probes stretched out toward the void.
Many elders and disciples were utterly shocked.
Someone gasped, "That's Senior Yuan Qingzi, the Old Ancestor of the Supreme Profound Sect!"
The faces of the Peak Masters changed slightly. "Could Senior Yuan Qingzi be here because of the Nangong Baixue incident?"
"The matter has actually alarmed a Great Emperor from the Supreme Profound Sect?"
The Sect Master bowed respectfully to Yuan Qingzi. "Greetings, Senior Yuan Qingzi."
Yuan Qingzi glanced at the Sect Master and nodded faintly. "Take me to see your sect's Old Ancestor."
The Sect Master dared not delay. Yuan Qingzi was the Medical Great Emperor, renowned throughout the Southern Wilds ten thousand years ago. The Sect Master was merely a Saint King Realm expert and was utterly unqualified to speak to Yuan Qingzi on equal terms.
With this in mind, the Sect Master led Yuan Qingzi to a secluded area of the Grand Dao Sect.
Here, the Dao patterns were faint, and the energy of Heaven and Earth was subtle. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor sat by a river, leisurely fishing.
As the Sect Master and Yuan Qingzi stepped into the area, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor didn't turn around. He simply smiled faintly. "Daoist Friend Yuan Qingzi, I trust you have been well."
As his voice faded, an ancient, terrifying aura swept over them from the distant green mountains. A terrifying Emperor's might, vast as the sea and as devastating as falling stars, instantly descended upon the river.
Another Cangxuan Old Ancestor appeared in the sky, looking exactly like the one fishing!
In the next instant, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor in the sky shimmered with brilliant divine light, and the "Cangxuan Old Ancestor" who was fishing transformed into a streak of light, merging with the one in the sky!
It turned out that the Quasi-Emperor level Cangxuan Old Ancestor was merely a clone!
Soon after, the Sect Master and the others departed.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor smiled, flicked his sleeve, and two stone chairs appeared by the riverbank, shimmering with bright light.
"Daoist Friend Yuan Qingzi, please sit."
Yuan Qingzi sat down on one of the stone chairs.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor chuckled. "Daoist Friend Yuan Qingzi, after several millennia, your cultivation has advanced quite a bit!"
Yuan Qingzi replied flatly, "It is still not as profound as your 'Fishing for Dao Enlightenment.'"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor spent his days fishing by the river. It seemed like a leisurely pastime, but in reality, it was a supreme cultivation method he had comprehended from the Grand Dao Scripture. It embodied the principle of the Dao of Nature, allowing him to merge with Heaven and Earth. Every spirit fish he caught meant he had grown closer to the river, the mountains, and the world itself.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor was not fishing for fish; he was fishing for the Dao and for enlightenment.