“Ye Chen, I think your Senior Sister is thinking about me right now,” Lu Xuan remarked casually.
Ye Chen smiled at the sudden, telepathic connection. “I wonder how Senior Sister is doing? Has she finished dealing with the Drunken Immortal Pavilion?”
“No big deal,” Lu Xuan said with a wave of his hand. “You should be able to see her again soon.”
Ye Chen’s eyes lit up with excitement. “When Senior Sister returns, I want to refine pills for her!”
Lu Xuan nodded. “You can certainly do that.”
He suddenly realized that Ye Chen being an alchemist was a huge boon! Whether it was for his first disciple, Ji Fuyao, or for the third, fourth, and all future disciples he planned to take in... Ye Chen would be immensely useful. This second disciple, with his dual cultivation of alchemy and martial arts, was truly excellent.
Before long, Ye Chen finished preparing the meal. Today, they were having Spicy Spirit Chicken.
Lu Xuan and Ye Chen immediately dug in. Cooked in the Dao Profound Iron Pot and infused with the Azure Nether Celestial Water, the dish was far from ordinary. Among the four great culinary traditions, Lu Xuan still preferred Sichuan cuisine the most. Why? Because his life had become so peaceful and tranquil; he needed a little spice to add some flavor.
As he ate, Ye Chen reported his recent gains in martial cultivation to Lu Xuan.
“Master, my Desolate Heaven Art has reached Minor Accomplishment, and I’m quickly approaching Profound Sovereign Late-stage Great Perfection!”
Lu Xuan nodded approvingly. “That’s very good! Now, with the power of the Azure Nether Celestial Water, your cultivation will progress with twice the efficiency.”
Ye Chen smiled. “I wonder what stage of the Profound Venerate realm Senior Sister is at now? If I work a little harder, is there a chance I could surpass her?”
A slight smile touched Lu Xuan’s lips.
This kid, Ye Chen, actually wanted to surpass Ji Fuyao. Even when Ji Fuyao was still on Azure Mystery Peak, Lu Xuan had sensed a subtle competitive edge, a faint scent of "gunpowder," between the two. Ye Chen was striving to catch up to Ji Fuyao, and Ji Fuyao, in turn, feared being surpassed by Ye Chen—that would be a massive loss of face for the Senior Sister.
Lu Xuan wisely chose not to tell Ye Chen that Ji Fuyao had already stepped into the One-star Profound Saint realm. If the boy knew that, he would probably go insane! He was already cultivating with a desperate intensity; knowing that news would only push him to ruthlessly over-exert himself.
At that moment, Ye Chen asked, “Master, the Desolate Heaven Art seems to be an incomplete technique?”
Lu Xuan nodded, having realized this himself later on. Ye Chen’s Desolate Heaven Art and Ji Fuyao’s Heaven-Burning Art were both incomplete. But that was normal. The Desolate Heaven Art was likely the cultivation method of the legendary Desolate Heaven Emperor! That man had swept through the ages and suppressed all enemies in the world. If not for the utterly strange nature of his enemies, who could revive infinitely, he would have already broken through the Ultimate Path! Therefore, the Desolate Heaven Art couldn't possibly be limited to a mere six-star Emperor-tier technique. If complete, it should be No-grade, beyond all known ranks.
Lu Xuan consulted the System internally. “System, why are the Desolate Heaven Art and Heaven-Burning Art incomplete?”
The System replied, “Don’t rush. They might be completed later.”
“Fine,” Lu Xuan said. “I’ll keep my expectations low then.”
Ye Chen continued, “Master, how does one comprehend the Invincible Stance mentioned in the Desolate Heaven Art? I suspect only you possess such an aura.”
Lu Xuan chuckled. The Invincible Stance? He had it too. The true, unreasonable Invincible Stance. But Ye Chen could never learn that one. However, Ye Chen could forge another kind of Invincible Stance.
Lu Xuan smiled. “The Invincible Stance is a form of will, a persistent thought! But the Invincible Stance isn't something you meditate on; it’s something you beat out of the world!”
Ye Chen pondered this. “Beaten out?”
Lu Xuan explained, “You must rise up, sweeping aside all contemporary prodigies and monstrous talents! Temper your will and forge your persistent thought in battle! When you have defeated every genius, then you will have truly comprehended the Invincible Stance.”
“Fight your way out! Use your fists! Use your martial arts! Forge your own era! Let the world know that you are peerless in both alchemy and martial arts!”
Hearing this, Ye Chen repeated the words with a tremor of excitement. “Fight my way out! Forge my own era!”
He understood. Cultivating the Desolate Heaven Art while sitting quietly in his cave dwelling would only ever yield superficial results. No matter how powerful he became, he would still be a flower in a greenhouse! The master of the Desolate Heaven Art had spent his life in endless conquest and combat. Ye Chen realized he must follow suit, sweeping across an entire generation of prodigies to comprehend the true Invincible Stance in the heat of battle.
Lu Xuan smiled. “The younger generations of the Ancient Qin Family and the Supreme Profound Sect will likely declare war on you soon. They will be your best whetstones.”
Ye Chen’s battle intent boiled. “Excellent!”
A short while later, Ye Chen finished his meal, tidied the wooden hut, and returned to his cave dwelling to cultivate. He knew his current realm was still too low. Even compared to the Grand Dao Sect’s true disciples, he lagged far behind. Top prodigies like Luo Lingkong, Liu Xuan, and Fang Yan had already been at Profound Sovereign Late-stage Great Perfection months ago. Now, after months of seclusion, they had likely all stepped into the Profound Venerate realm!
Moreover, the Supreme Profound Sect and the Ancient Qin Family were Overlord-level Powers, and their genius disciples were rumored to be even stronger than those of the Grand Dao Sect.
With this thought, Ye Chen clenched his fist, a faint smile playing on his lips. His heart was restless. He desperately wanted to fight the true disciples of the Grand Dao Sect! He desperately wanted to fight the geniuses of the Supreme Profound Sect and the Ancient Qin Family!
Ye Chen’s hand seals shifted, and a faint divine radiance emanated from his body as he began cultivating the Desolate Heaven Art. This time, a profound, new insight had taken root in his heart. The so-called invincibility was not just a state of mind; it was the ability to defeat every single enemy!
***
At the same time, Lu Xuan lay on his Mystic Ice bed, reading a storybook.
The System’s voice rang out.
“Ding! The host’s second disciple, Ye Chen, is increasing his cultivation. Synchronization commencing!”
“Ding! The host’s second disciple, Ye Chen, has gained enlightenment regarding the Desolate Heaven Art. Synchronization commencing!”
As the voice faded, a massive river of cultivation essence poured into Lu Xuan’s body. His Dantian felt like a great river descending from the heavens, accumulating power without end.
Comfortable.
***
Meanwhile, a major event occurred in the Ancient Qin Family.
The Ancient Qin Family publicly announced, “The engagement between Qin Family Scion Qin Xiao and Nangong Baixue will take place in one month!”
The news instantly shook the Southern Wilds.
This move by the Ancient Qin Family completely solidified Nangong Baixue’s status as Qin Xiao’s fiancée. Everyone knew that while the Nangong Family’s status was completely mismatched with the Ancient Qin Family’s, Nangong Baixue possessed the Primordial Yin Body, which could greatly assist Qin Xiao’s cultivation. Qin Xiao’s talent was already heaven-defying, rumored to have the Potential to Attain Emperor. Combined with Nangong Baixue’s Primordial Yin Body, their yin and yang would harmonize, pushing Qin Xiao’s cultivation to an even higher level.
Experts across the Southern Wilds discussed the matter heatedly.
“It’s clear that after the incident at the Grand Dao Sect, the Ancient Qin Family doesn’t want any more surprises. Now that Nangong Baixue’s status as fiancée is confirmed, the Nangong Family’s standing will rise accordingly. Truly, when one person attains the Dao, their entire family ascends to heaven!”
“But wait, Ye Chen of the Grand Dao Sect killed over a dozen genius alchemists from the Supreme Profound Sect. Is that matter just going to be swept under the rug?”
“Heh, how could it be? War between major sects won't break out easily, but the enmity is sealed! I heard that Senior Yuan Qingzi, the Great Emperor of Medicine, personally visited the Grand Dao Sect. I wonder what was discussed?”
“Don’t you know? In a past epoch, the Grand Dao Sect and the Supreme Profound Sect clashed due to conflicting philosophies, leading to a massive war where blood flowed like rivers and even a few Great Emperors perished! It was only later, as the ages turned, that the two sects chose to temporarily set aside their differences.”
Everyone sighed, recalling the hidden history of the Southern Wilds. The Grand Dao Sect and the Supreme Profound Sect were two colossal entities in the region. As the saying goes, different paths lead to different outcomes. The philosophies of the Grand Dao Scripture and the Supreme Scripture were fundamentally opposed: one sought harmony with the Dao and the cosmos, while the other sought to defy Heaven and walk a path of slaughter.
However, the great changes of the world had yet to occur, and the legendary Ultimate Path had not yet manifested. Once the Ultimate Path opened, the path to the Supreme Realm would appear, but that event was prophesied to bring about the Twilight of the Gods, a time of cosmic sorrow.
Above the Emperor Realm lay the Supreme Realm!
The Overlord-level Powers currently visible in the Southern Wilds—such as the Grand Dao Sect, the Supreme Profound Sect, Cangmu Academy, the Yao Family, and the Ancient Qin Family—were merely the tip of the iceberg. The Ultimate Path and the path to the Supreme Realm had not manifested for several epochs. During these epochs, countless Overlord-level Powers had chosen to retreat and hibernate. Their names might have been lost to the river of time, but they had not truly vanished.
Once the Supreme Realm path opened, the Southern Wilds would no longer be as peaceful as it was now. This was the hidden truth of the Southern Wilds, known only to the top factions.
The experts of the Southern Wilds sighed, wondering, “Will the path to the Supreme Realm manifest in this epoch?”
Soon, the news of Nangong Baixue’s engagement reached the Grand Dao Sect. The Sect Master informed Lu Xuan and Ye Chen.
Ye Chen was indifferent. That woman had nothing to do with him anymore. Besides, he was still determined to kill Nangong Baixue.
Lu Xuan murmured, “Nangong Baixue, you had a chance, and you threw it away. You made the wrong choice, and you will reap what you sow.”
***
At the same time, the true disciples who had lost the Inner Sect Trial several months ago emerged from their seclusion, causing a sensation throughout the Grand Dao Sect. After months of intense cultivation, how strong were prodigies like Liu Xuan, Luo Lingkong, and Fang Yan now?
On Ethereal Peak, mist billowed, and spiritual energy swirled. The spiritual pool atop the peak reflected the vibrant, cloud-like radiance of the sunset. Female disciples, with their voluptuous figures, looked like figures stepping out of a painting, their perfect curves vaguely visible through the mist, creating an enchanting scene.
Suddenly, a faint fragrance wafted from a cave dwelling, and a terrifying aura of the Profound Venerate realm permeated the surroundings. Brilliant Dao light surged as the true disciple Liu Xuan stepped into the air. Petals of dazzling light scattered beneath her feet. A faint smile graced her face.
She was very satisfied with her seclusion. She had been defeated by Ji Fuyao in the Inner Sect Trial, a loss that stung because Ji Fuyao had managed to fight above her realm. But over the last few months, her illusion techniques had advanced, and after consuming a massive amount of rare resources, she had broken through to Profound Venerate Stage Two!
Liu Xuan smiled alluringly and murmured, “Junior Sister Fuyao, I wonder if you are still my opponent now?”