The Yao Family Old Ancestor instructed Yao Baili to demonstrate Ye Chen’s alchemy technique.
Yao Baili’s spiritual seals shifted in his hands, perfectly replicating Ye Chen’s method. The assembled Yao Family ancestors were utterly stunned. This technique was profoundly mysterious, containing a trace of "Dao and Essence." In their collective memory, no such alchemy method existed in the Southern Wilds.
The Yao Family Ancestors questioned, “Where does this Ye Chen come from? How can his alchemy technique be so profound?”
Yao Baili’s heart tightened. “Ye Chen is from Qingzhou. He might have a Pill Emperor backing him.”
The ancestors, their pride wounded, countered, “A Pill Emperor? Our Yao Family has Pill Emperors! Could Ye Chen’s master be an Ancient Pill Emperor from the Ancient Era?”
They reasoned that the Ancient Era was one of brilliant prosperity, where Great Emperors frequently emerged. If Ye Chen’s master hailed from that time, it was understandable that this technique was unknown in the current epoch. After all, the Southern Wilds had a long and ancient history, with many Overlord-level Powers vanishing or going into hiding, making them impossible to trace in the present day.
Enraged by the loss of face, the Yao Family Old Ancestor addressed Yao Huanhuan and the other younger alchemists: “Your performance this time was unacceptable! I sentence you all to ten years of seclusion!”
Yao Huanhuan and the others wore expressions of utter misery.
Yao Baili then spoke up. “Old Ancestor, we haven’t sent cultivation resources to the Saint Daughter, Yao Liuli, in quite some time. Should I make a trip?”
“Go.”
A Storage Ring was tossed out. Yao Baili caught it, then left the main hall and stepped into the ‘Sin Valley.’
The Sin Valley was located in a desolate, hidden area of the Yao Family. The void above was interwoven with Dao patterns, sealing off this small world. Yao Baili produced an ancient jade slip and activated a spiritual seal. The brilliant Dao patterns above the valley surged, opening a temporary entrance.
He soon arrived at Yao Liuli’s cave dwelling.
Yao Liuli wore a light azure dress. Her face was exquisite, her eyes like stars, and her nose delicate. Her voluptuous figure was impossible to conceal even beneath the azure fabric. Such peerless grace proved why she was called the Yao Family’s number one beauty.
Seeing Yao Baili, Yao Liuli slowly rose, her long, jade-like legs moving gracefully. She smiled faintly. “Elder Baili, you’ve come.”
Yao Baili lowered his voice. “Liuli, I’ve brought you good news this time.”
He immediately recounted everything about Ye Chen’s recent success. Yao Liuli’s delicate body trembled, her eyes growing moist. Her voice shook. “Chen’er…”
Time had flown. Sixteen years had passed! Her Chen’er was finally rising!
Yao Baili sighed, handing the Storage Ring to Yao Liuli. “Liuli, you still have four years left of your twenty-year seclusion in the Sin Valley! Don’t let your cultivation fall behind during this time.”
Yao Liuli inclined her snow-white neck and nodded.
Soon, Yao Baili departed.
Yao Liuli looked up at the seal and Restriction above the Sin Valley. Her mindset was already quietly changing. Knowing the news of Ye Chen had brought her heart peace. He was her flesh and blood, after all.
At this moment, the seal above the Sin Valley no longer felt like a restraint.
She murmured, “Chen’er, your mother is sorry! Now that you have a master, you must cultivate diligently under his guidance. Once I Attain Emperor status, I will vindicate you and your father!”
***
Qingcheng, Ye Family.
The news of the Pill Refining Exchange Conference reached the Ye Family.
The Patriarch was ecstatic. “As expected of my son, Ye Chen! To become an Earth-tier Alchemist! Give him enough time, and he’s certain to step into the ranks of Heaven-tier Alchemists!”
The Ye Family Old Ancestor looked confused. “When exactly did Chen’er learn alchemy?”
The Patriarch paused, dumbfounded. “I… I don’t know either. But with Peak Master Lu involved, I feel like anything is possible.”
The Ye Family Old Ancestor nodded in resignation. “That is true.”
The Patriarch expressed his worry. “I’m concerned that the Ancient Qin Family and the Supreme Profound Sect will seek revenge against our Ye Family.”
The Ye Family Old Ancestor frowned slightly. “You needn’t worry about that. The Ancient Qin Family and the Supreme Profound Sect are Overlord-level Powers in the Southern Wilds. They won’t openly attack our Ye Family. Even if they did, Peak Master Lu would never stand idly by!”
The Patriarch nodded. “I hope so.”
After a moment of silence, the Patriarch asked, “Old Ancestor Ye Beichen and the others followed Her Majesty the Empress to Cangzhou. Has any news returned?”
The Ye Family Old Ancestor shook his head, a trace of worry on his face. “Still nothing.”
They were deeply concerned. If the Drunken Immortal Pavilion had chosen to continue serving Empress Fuyao, the news should have returned long ago. Yet, Empress Fuyao, the Dragon Guards, and the Ye Family Old Ancestors had arrived in Cangzhou many days ago, and there was still no word.
The Old Ancestor tried to reassure him. “However, the soul lamps and life tablets of our strong ones are all intact. No accident should have occurred yet.”
***
Cangzhou.
Ji Fuyao, Wang Man, Qing Yan, and the other Dragon Guards had arrived. Ye Beichen and the other Ye Family Old Ancestors waited in the shadows.
After the fall of the Fuyao Dynasty, Wei Yan and his followers had carried the dynasty’s foundation across thousands of miles to Cangzhou, establishing the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Three millennia later, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion had firmly established itself, even building several branch locations. Cangzhou was many times larger than Qingzhou, with deeply entrenched, complex local powers. The strongest faction was guarded by a Two-star Great Emperor.
It was no small feat for the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, a mere Quasi-Emperor Realm faction, to rise in such a place.
At this moment, Ji Fuyao and her loyalists were in Cangcheng, the capital where the Drunken Immortal Pavilion’s headquarters was located. In a tavern, Ji Fuyao, wearing a fire-red dress and a veil, sat cross-legged, studying a map of Cangzhou. Several red dots marked the headquarters and branch locations of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Ji Fuyao’s beautiful eyes narrowed. The Drunken Immortal Pavilion had risen to prominence, and its strength now subtly surpassed that of the Ye Family and the Dragon Guards. She had a sense of foreboding, but she refrained from acting, waiting for news from Wang Man and the others.
Half a day later, Wang Man returned to the tavern, fuming.
“Your Majesty the Empress, I believe that bastard Wei Yan is toying with us!”
Ji Fuyao slowly opened her eyes. “What happened?”
Wang Man angrily thumped his chest, gritting his teeth. “Your Majesty, Qing Yan and I transmitted a message to Wei Yan in advance, and he claimed to be at the headquarters. Yet, when we arrived with the token today, the elder there told us Wei Yan had gone to the Liucheng branch!”
Ji Fuyao asked, “Did you send him a Transmission Jade Slip?”
Qing Yan nodded, her face tight with indignation. “We did. That scoundrel claimed there was an urgent matter at the Liucheng branch and told us to wait in Cangcheng. He said he would return in ten days.”
Ji Fuyao’s gaze turned icy. “Ten days, is it?”
Wang Man gnashed his teeth, killing intent surging. “That damned Wei Yan! Is he betraying Your Majesty? Why don’t we transmit a message to Ye Beichen and the others and just annihilate the Drunken Immortal Pavilion?”
Ji Fuyao pondered for a moment. “If that’s the case, we’ll wait seven more days.”
Wang Man’s chest heaved with righteous anger. “Fine! We shall obey Your Majesty! If that scoundrel Wei Yan has another excuse after ten days, we’ll slaughter him immediately!”
Qing Yan spoke pragmatically. “Your Majesty, I believe Wei Yan already knows of your return, but he is deliberately avoiding us.”
Divine light flickered in Ji Fuyao’s eyes. “We’ll give him one last chance.”
The Dragon Guards forcibly suppressed their fury. “As you command!”
Ji Fuyao then continued cultivating the Heaven-Burning Art in the tavern.
The next day, Wang Man and Qing Yan returned, their faces alight with excitement.
“Your Majesty, we have good news!”
Ji Fuyao smiled faintly. “Oh? What is it?”
Wang Man excitedly announced, “Peak Master Lu’s second disciple, Ye Chen, won first place in the Younger Generation Alchemy Competition! He crushed the alchemy prodigies of the Yao Family and the Pill Fragrance Sect! Ye Chen is now an Earth-tier Alchemist!”
Earth-tier Alchemist!
Divine light flowed in Ji Fuyao’s beautiful eyes. She was pleasantly surprised. “Ye Chen did well!”
This was indeed one of the few pieces of good news in recent days! She recalled that less than three months ago, when she left Azure Mystery Peak, Junior Brother Ye Chen had only just stepped into the Xuan-tier Alchemist rank. Yet, in less than three months, his alchemy had improved so drastically? It made sense, though. Under her Master’s guidance, any miracle was possible! Her own cultivation had also progressed astonishingly fast, leaping from Grand Profound King to One-star Profound Saint in less than half a year—a truly world-shaking speed!
Wang Man continued, “Your Majesty, Ye Chen’s alchemy technique shocked the entire venue! Even Heaven-tier Alchemists like Dan Xiangzi and Yao Baili were trying to gain enlightenment from his technique!”
Ji Fuyao gently nodded, a lovely smile gracing her lips. She was genuinely happy that her Junior Brother Ye Chen was so exceptional.
Ji Fuyao asked, “Any other news?”
Wang Man chuckled. “During the pill refining, Nangong Baixue and others from the Supreme Profound Sect allegedly launched a Soul Combat attack against Ye Chen. But Ye Chen single-handedly eliminated over a dozen prodigies and nearly killed Nangong Baixue! Unfortunately, Pill Saint Yunyang intervened and saved her.”
Ji Fuyao’s beautiful eyes narrowed. “Such a thing happened?”
This proved that Junior Brother Ye Chen’s combat strength was formidable! She needed to work harder! It would be unacceptable to be surpassed by her Junior Brother.
Wang Man and Qing Yan sighed with emotion. “Peak Master Lu is truly a divine man! Ye Chen’s talent is also immense. This time, Ye Chen has made a name for himself across all the great domains. However…”
Ji Fuyao asked, “However what?”
Wang Man frowned. “However, Peak Master Lu is still being mocked and pointed at by the crowd. No one knows of Peak Master Lu’s true power!”
Ji Fuyao let out a soft laugh. “That is irrelevant. Master is Master. He doesn’t care about such things.”
Hearing this, Wang Man and the others were filled with profound admiration. They were completely awestruck. Lu Xuan was truly an existence they had to submit to!
Moments later, Wang Man and Qing Yan left to continue investigating the situation at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Ji Fuyao continued cultivating the Heaven-Burning Art.
The image of Lu Xuan flashed through her mind. A warm current surged in her heart as she thought of him.
She murmured, “It’s been a while. Master, are you well? I miss you a little.”
Suddenly, she felt a stirring. As if by telepathy, she sensed that her Master, thousands of miles away at the Grand Dao Sect, might also be wondering what she was doing.
Ji Fuyao smiled. “Master, that’s wonderful.”
***
Grand Dao Sect, Azure Mystery Peak.
Inside the thatched cottage, Ye Chen was cooking. Lu Xuan lay in front of the cottage, basking in the sun and enjoying the scenery. The clouds drifted lazily; the years were peaceful.
This was the joy of lying flat—a state of ‘Heaven-Man Connection,’ free from the distractions of cultivation, allowing his entire being to relax.
Just then, the System’s voice sounded.
[Ding! First Disciple Ji Fuyao is cultivating. Initiating cultivation synchronization!]
[Ding! First Disciple Ji Fuyao has gained enlightenment in the Heaven-Burning Art! Initiating synchronization!]
A surge of pure spiritual energy poured into Lu Xuan’s body, rushing through his limbs and bones. The exquisite comfort made Lu Xuan let out a soft moan. His cultivation had effortlessly reached Five-star Profound Saint initial stage.
Suddenly, Lu Xuan felt a stirring, as if by telepathy, a warm feeling in his heart.
He smiled and called out to Ye Chen, who was inside the cottage. “Ye Chen, your Senior Sister is thinking of me.”