Chapter 1099: Starting Over

Wangtian Ge was utterly silent.

On the Lian Dan Yun Tai, a group of alchemists continued their diligent work, refining pills with utmost care.

Ever since Ye Chen had produced his pills, seven full days had passed, yet not a single other alchemist had succeeded.

Below, the watching cultivators were growing restless, yawning frequently. The alchemists had been at it for seven days, and the spectators had stared on just as long, their eyelids drooping with exhaustion.

During this time, many had left, finding the quiet wait dull and uninteresting.

Thud!

After what felt like an eternity, a sound of someone spitting blood shattered the stillness, drawing everyone's eyes to the third-floor private room. Meanwhile, Yue Zhen and his companions smirked coldly, their expressions full of mockery.

The one who had spat blood was Xie Yun, as that mysterious force within him acted up again, eroding his Dao root.

Ye Chen acted swiftly, pressing a finger to Xie Yun's forehead.

Xie Yun's bloodline was extraordinarily peculiar, leaving Ye Chen surprised. Through it, he could see a vision of a Vermilion Bird with its will burning like flames—a phenomenon only powerful bloodlines possessed.

No wonder it was empowered by the Xuanyuan Emperor; the Zhuque family bloodline was indeed dominant!

Ye Chen murmured to himself, activating his Xianlun Eye to examine Xie Yun's Dao root, which had been ravaged by the mysterious force, riddled with holes.

With no other choice, Ye Chen employed a supreme sealing technique, locking away Xie Yun's bloodline and Dao root, along with the mysterious force. However, he could only seal it; he had no way to eliminate it.

Once the bloodline, Dao root, and mysterious force were sealed, Xie Yun's chaotic aura finally stabilized.

Even so, his condition remained poor. His face was pale and bloodless, like someone gravely ill, beyond the help of medicine, as if he might pass away at any moment.

"Damn it," Xie Yun muttered under his breath, his dim eyes flickering with a cold, sharp glint.

"Can't your Saint blood save him?" Mu Wanqing supported Xie Yun, looking at Ye Chen with a hopeful expression.

"The damage to his Dao root foundation goes beyond what Saint blood can repair." Ye Chen shook his head gently.

"Do you have a way to restore me?" Xie Yun wiped the fresh blood from his mouth.

"Dissipate your cultivation and remake your Dao root."

"Dissipate your cultivation and remake your Dao root." Xie Yun furrowed his brow.

"So, everything has to start from the beginning." Mu Wanqing clenched her hand tightly.

"That's the only method available now." Ye Chen took a deep breath. "The dominance of the Shidao Xuedan is far more terrifying than you imagine. Surviving its torment for ten years is no small feat."

"Then I'll start over from the beginning." Xie Yun spoke resolutely, his eyes shining with firm and piercing determination.

"After the alchemy selection, I'll help you with your rebuilding."

"This will delay your plan to find the reincarnated ones." Xie Yun said with a hint of guilt.

"What are you talking about? I won't leave without clearing all your obstacles—we're brothers." Ye Chen smiled reassuringly. Although he wanted to search for the reincarnated individuals as soon as possible, he couldn't ignore Xie Yun's situation.

After all, Xie Yun was not just Xie Yun; he was also the ninth prince of the Zhuque family. There were ties from his past life, and how could there be no feelings in this one?

Moreover, Xie Yun's current circumstances were precarious. As a fallen prince, he truly needed a powerful ally. In his past life, Xie Yun had protected Ye Chen's path; in this life, Ye Chen would pave the way for him.

Pills are out!

As they spoke, cries of surprise rose from below.

Hearing this, Ye Chen looked over to see a beam of light soaring into the sky—someone had refined a six-pattern pill.

Success!

It was a young man in white, who excitedly grabbed the six-pattern pill but collapsed to the ground, unable to stand. The seven days of effort had taken an immense toll.

After him, it was a long while before anyone else succeeded.

Not until nightfall did more people refine their pills, all exceptionally talented individuals. Though they also produced six-pattern pills, they paled in comparison to Ye Chen's.

Xie Yun had already descended from the third floor. As the host of this alchemy selection, he couldn't remain absent.

Seeing Xie Yun's weakened state, Yue Zhen and his group sneered again.

Xie Yun ignored their mockery completely. Over the past century, he had become much more reserved.

In recent years, he had faced all sorts of ridicule and sarcasm, learning the value of endurance. More importantly, awakening his past-life memories and reuniting with Ye Chen had given him immense confidence. He believed he could turn the tables spectacularly.

"Ye Chen, what are your chances of fully curing Xuan Yu?" Watching Xie Yun below, Mu Wanqing turned to Ye Chen with hope in her eyes, seeking a definitive answer.

"I will cure him." Ye Chen smiled.

"Thank you." Mu Wanqing's eyes misted over. These years, supporting Ruotian Xuan Yu had worn her down. If Xie Yun could regain his former glory, her decade of effort would not be in vain.

"Among the nine great families, how many still support Xie Yun?"

"Only the Mu family." Nian Wei replied slowly. "As for the other eight, they're mostly taking a wait-and-see approach, not openly backing anyone. Thus, the other eight princes are all vying to win them over. Ever since the ninth prince met with disaster, they've been engaged in open and covert struggles."

"Besides that, there's another crucial factor." Mu Wanqing added.

"It's Ku Yue, right?" Ye Chen chuckled lightly.

"Exactly him." Nian Wei took a deep breath. "Ku Yue is the only alchemist on Zhuque Star, and alchemists hold tremendous influence. With his forces infiltrating the upper levels of the Zhuque family and the nine great families, his sway is even greater than that of the eight families in many ways. So, the eight princes are all trying to win him over."

"That's why Xuan Yu has no advantages at all." Mu Wanqing said. "He can't even get past Ku Yue."

"How long until the Zhuque family selects the next holy lord?"

"Less than three months."

"The timeline is a bit tight." Ye Chen stroked his chin. "But with Xie Yun's talent, it should be fine."

"You're planning to help Xuan Yu compete for the Zhuque family holy lord position?" Mu Wanqing was taken aback.

"If we're doing it, let's aim for the top."

"But there's less than three months!" Mu Wanqing looked at Ye Chen skeptically.

"Anything is possible until the very end."

Pills are out again! Just as Ye Chen finished speaking, another beam of light rose from the Lian Dan Yun Tai. An alchemist had finally refined a pill in his final moments, overcome with emotion and even shedding tears.

At this point, aside from those who had exploded their furnaces or withdrawn midway, only about a dozen alchemists remained on the platform, all staggering with fatigue. The seven days had pushed them to their limits.

Time passed slowly.

By the dawn of the seventh day, three more furnaces exploded, four failed, but three succeeded in refining pills.

On the eighth day, only three alchemists were still working, all on their last legs. Persisting this long was commendable, as six-pattern pills were incredibly difficult to refine.

In the high seat, Xie Yun sipped a cup of wine, quietly watching the three on the stage.

He had already decided that even if they couldn't produce six-pattern pills, he would declare them selected.

At the eighth hour of the day, as two more divine rainbows of pills soared into the sky, more six-pattern pills emerged. Sadly, the last person failed to refine one, collapsing in a faint.

Thus, this edition of the Youdu Alchemist Selection came to an end.