Chapter 2343: Generous?

The starry sky remained as vast as ever, with the reflected starlight full of splendor and vitality.

Yet, this harmony was disrupted by one person's arrival, adding a touch of discord. Looking closely, it was a man clutching his lower back, limping along. His hair, which should have been like a waterfall, was a messy bird's nest, clearly from a beating. His face was bruised and swollen with black eyes, and strangely, blood was dripping from one nostril, making him look ridiculously comical.

Indeed, it was Ye Chen, the Holy Lord of the Heavenly Court and the Tenth Emperor of Da Chu. He had boastfully tried to snatch someone's child, only to be thoroughly thrashed by the old man.

The old man had held back; otherwise, Ye Chen would have been reduced to ashes.

His current state perfectly illustrated the saying: attempting something forceful and ending up humiliated.

"I've truly been ignorant."

Ye Chen wiped the blood from his nose, realizing he had underestimated that old man. He wasn't as simple as he appeared—he was no ordinary peak Quasi-Emperor. In terms of combat power, he was absolutely on par with Di Ji.

Most importantly, the old man's Dao was the elusive and ethereal path. Ye Chen's relied-upon Emperor Path immortal techniques became useless against him, like mere decorations that couldn't even land a hit.

And so, the clever Ye Chen had been beaten on the spot.

Even a Quasi-Emperor-level Saint Body could face setbacks. It was only because he had underestimated this era, where hidden experts were everywhere. Only at the level of Di Huang could one claim invincibility. One slip-up could lead to being caught off guard, and the next time, another beating. There were just too many formidable people.

After a thorough thrashing, he had become truly obedient and gave up any thoughts of scheming for the Tai Yin and Tai Yang bodies.

"The various heavens in the future will surely be incredibly lively."

Before entering the teleportation domain gate, Ye Chen uttered this meaningful remark. This era was extraordinary, with the Tai Yin Body and Tai Yang Body, as well as figures like the children of the earth, or his own Heavenly Tribulation Body and Lone Star of Heavenly Calamity. All would be formidable adversaries.

These were just the ones on the surface; there were definitely more terrifying bloodlines yet to emerge.

Thus, the impending golden age would be dazzling with stars.

On the other side, the old man sat cross-legged on his wine gourd, sipping liquor and humming a tune, utterly relaxed. Beating Da Chu's Tenth Emperor had been immensely satisfying. It wasn't about disrespecting Di Huang—even if a Great Accomplishment Saint Body had come, things would still need to be reasonable. How could one openly rob someone?

Behind him, the Tai Yin Body and Tai Yang Body were well-behaved, having witnessed the old man's power and Ye Chen's strength. A minor Quasi-Emperor like Ye Chen had lasted over a hundred rounds against the old man, something perhaps only he could achieve across all the various heavens.

"Don't neglect your cultivation once we return," the old man said leisurely.

Both the Tai Yin and Tai Yang bodies nodded, understanding his implication. In the years to come, it would be a new battlefield for the various heavens, possibly another contest for the Emperor Path.

This contest wasn't about fighting to the death; it was more about sparring and protection, safeguarding the glory of their respective inheritances. The Tai Yin and Tai Yang lineages also had their own exclusive myths.

"Find some time to have another child," the old man chuckled.

The Tai Yang Body coughed awkwardly, while the Tai Yin Body's cheeks flushed red instantly. They knew he wanted to protect the Chaos Body child, but did he have to be so blunt?

The old man didn't mind; he was being a bit improper for his age, but it didn't matter.

As he spoke, the wine gourd sped up and vanished into the depths of the starry sky.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen emerged from another domain gate and headed straight for Da Chu.

It was a peaceful night when he arrived at Bei Zhen Cang Yuan. After wandering for several months, he still found the air of his homeland the most comfortable—a vast expanse of mountains and rivers full of spiritual energy.

It was still early, so he went to the Hao Tian Family, intending to chat with his father-in-law.

Unfortunately, he arrived at the wrong time; Hao Tian Xuan Zhen and Hua Xu were secluded, trying to conceive a child. From afar, he could see the pavilion shaking as they worked hard.

"So dedicated, it warms my heart," Ye Chen sighed, then turned and left.

As he passed by the walls of Da Chu City, he paused for a moment.

The massive construction project was still ongoing, even more extensive than before. The entire wall was engraved with Emperor Path array patterns, with countless Emperor Path formations laid out. Each city tower had deadly cannons. Not only Da Chu valued this, but the various heavens did too, striving to make it as impregnable as a fortress.

Da Chu was much quieter than in the past. With Di Huang guarding it, there was no threat from the primordial chaos, and no more wars. Most of its people had gone out to train in the depths of the starry sky.

As for the Nine Emperors and the Divine Generals, that group of old folks weren't at Tian Xuan Gate—they were probably out enjoying the world. Like Jian Xian and Xian Mu, or Jian Shen and Kunlun Shen Nu, they must be on their honeymoons.

Apart from them, the battle-hungry ones were either fighting or on their way to fights. Along the way, Ye Chen had seen plenty—single combats weren't enough; they went for group brawls.

Bathed in moonlight, he returned to Heng Yue Sect.

Da Chu was quiet, and Heng Yue Sect was quiet too. The usual troublemakers weren't in the sect; they had likely gone out into the world to cultivate and seek breakthroughs through enlightenment.

The Jade Girl Peak under the moon was as elegant as ever.

When Ye Chen landed, Ye Ling was sitting with her hands propping up her chin, bored and gazing at the starry sky. It wasn't that she didn't want to go out; Ye Chen had sealed her cultivation and powers before leaving.

Tang San Shao was there too, the little chubby black guy, sprawled on a rock and snoring away.

Besides them, there was Hong Yan, not munching on spirit fruits for once. She was sitting quietly under the old tree, carving wood. Several months had passed, and she still hadn't grown at all.

"Dad, you finally know to come back." Ye Ling muttered with a face full of resentment. Ye Chen had been gone for months and had sealed her powers for just as long. The little troublemaker of the past couldn't stand it.

Ye Chen smiled and waved his hand to lift the seal.

Ye Ling grinned and dashed off like a wild horse freed from its reins. She even doubled back to drag the sleeping Tang San Shao away with her.

Ye Chen didn't chase after her. He plopped down under the old tree. "Xiao Hong, did you miss me?"

"Scram." The female Saint Body said flatly, too lazy to bother scolding him.

"The big commotion earlier, you must have sensed it." Ye Chen said casually.

That got the female Saint Body's interest; her hand holding the carving knife paused slightly. She was curious to know who had fought Di Huang. In this era, who else could rival him and shake the various heavens?

"It was the Zhu Xian Sword." Ye Chen didn't keep her in suspense. "It transformed into a Saint Body, identical to mine, and at the same level as Di Huang predecessor."

Hearing this, the female Saint Body's knife stopped again. Though she was just a little girl, her eyes flickered with divine light, and her small brows furrowed.

"You should know the reason behind this." Ye Chen spoke again, full of expectation.

"I don't know." The female Saint Body replied, then continued carving. She did know, but she kept the secrets about the Zhu Xian Sword and the Ancient Heavenly Court sealed tight.

"The Zhu Xian Sword was destroyed, ground to dust by Di Huang predecessor." Ye Chen said.

This time, the female Saint Body didn't respond, and her expression showed no change. It was as if she cared more about the wood carving, working on it with utmost focus and bringing it to life.

Ye Chen took a deep breath, feeling a strong urge to hang the female Saint Body from a tree and interrogate her. What wouldn't she say? Even Da Chu's emperor had his limits!

After waiting a long time with no word from Hong Yan, he left reluctantly.

At the back mountain of Jade Girl Peak, he appeared again to pay respects to Hu Xian Er.

The grave sat quietly, but now there was an added lotus flower, bathed in starlight and moonlight, pure and radiant. Looking closely, it seemed as if a woman was dancing gracefully within.

Ye Chen was momentarily dazed. He stepped forward and stared at the lotus. He had seen grass grow on graves before, but a lotus on a grave was a first, and it even came with visions.

After studying it half the night, he couldn't figure it out, so he left quietly. He'd have to ask Di Huang another day; as a Saint Body predecessor, he should be able to explain it.

Once again at the peak of Jade Girl Peak, he sat cross-legged, took out the soul-nurturing treasure lotus lamp, and used it to absorb moonlight to nourish Nian Wei's soul. For her revival, it would still take time.

The night passed without incident, and dawn arrived in the blink of an eye.

Early in the morning, before the sky was fully light, Ye Chen was kicked awake by someone.

This someone was a woman, standing at an angle that looked devilishly eccentric no matter how you viewed her. No need to guess—it was the Evil Demon. Across all the various heavens, no one else was quite like her.

Ye Chen got up, his face darkening. As a Quasi-Emperor, it was embarrassing to be kicked every time. And she always stood crooked; he always wanted to straighten her out.

"Quickly fuse them." The Evil Demon waved her hand, and over a dozen flames hovered in front of Ye Chen. They were of various colors, all with their own spirituality, flickering as if afraid.

"Qing Lian Xuan Huo, Miao Miao Gui Huo, Tai Gu Yao Huo..." Ye Chen examined them one by one, naming them all. There weren't many flames, and none were of an exceptionally high rank.

Still, having them was better than nothing. To evolve the immortal fire into Chaos Fire, these alone weren't enough. It was as difficult as a Quasi-Emperor approaching the Great Emperor level.

The Evil Demon waved her hand again, producing a purple vine full of vibrant life force.

At the sight of this vine, Ye Chen's eyes lit up. It was an extinct treasure, a material for refining the Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill. Such divine items were rare and invaluable, on par with the Divine Flower. Of course, materials for a nine-mark pill were all heaven-defying.

Ye Chen didn't hesitate and swiftly took it.

Glancing at the Evil Demon, he noticed her face was slightly pale, with a trickle of fresh blood at the corner of her mouth. Clearly, she was injured.

Ye Chen frowned, easily guessing the reason. She must have gone to some dangerous place to find refining materials. The various heavens were vast; even a Great Emperor couldn't explore it all in a lifetime. There were too many unknown realms and perilous areas, and even the Evil Demon's strength couldn't avoid injury.

Ah!

Looking at the weary Evil Demon, Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh. Though she was eccentric, her feelings for Mu Liu Qing were genuine. For a Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill, she had traveled through dangers, entering any risky place as long as materials were there.

He couldn't imagine what would happen if she gathered all the materials, if the immortal fire evolved into Chaos Fire, and he still couldn't refine the pill. The Evil Demon would likely break down.

"You're really counting on me to refine the Soul-Returning Pill?" Ye Chen smiled.

"If you can't, then join him in death." The Evil Demon said, then stepped off the mountain peak and gradually disappeared. Her back looked desolate and weathered, covered in the dust of ages.

Ye Chen twitched his mouth and shook his head with a smile. He understood the Evil Demon's mindset. If Chu Xuan and Chu Ling were like Mu Liu Qing, he would do the same—exhaust his life searching, living only for that slim hope.

Clearing his thoughts, he descended the peak and went to the outer gate of Heng Yue Sect.

By the time he reappeared, he was at the entrance of the Spirit Pill Pavilion. Before even entering, he smelled the strong aroma of pills.

Clearly, Xu Fu was refining pills and was extremely dedicated. He was making an eight-mark pill and had been at it all night. When Ye Chen returned last night, Xu Fu was already working on it. Now, after a whole night, the pill wasn't done yet, but Xu Fu's eyes were bloodshot.

Not everyone was a prodigy like the Dan Saint. Xu Fu's talents were average, his aptitude far inferior to Ye Chen's. Refining an eight-mark pill was tough for him, and the failure rate was high.

"Are you refining pills or throwing your life away?" Ye Chen walked in with a wine flask, glancing at the pill furnace. It was buzzing and trembling, the true fire unstable and on the verge of exploding.

"Get lost." Xu Fu snapped, as refining pills hated interruptions and could distract him.

"Keep going like this, and it'll explode for sure." Ye Chen rolled his eyes, waved Xu Fu aside, and stood before the furnace. He summoned his immortal fire, merging it into the furnace to stabilize the restless flames. He wasn't showing off; he just didn't want to waste the materials. Eight-mark pill ingredients were precious.

"The difference between people is just too big!" Xu Fu muttered, panting heavily from exhaustion, his face deathly pale. Seeing Ye Chen handle it so easily, he couldn't help but sigh. He had taught Ye Chen alchemy, and in just a few hundred years, Ye Chen completely outclassed him.

"It's a matter of character." Ye Chen shrugged, controlling the flames with one hand and sipping wine with the other. He was completely at ease—a Quasi-Emperor refining an eight-mark pill was no pressure.

That was the Dan Saint for you—refining pills while chatting, without missing a beat.

Xu Fu shook his head and smiled, sitting down. "Have you gathered all the materials for the Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill? If you need it, you can take my true fire anytime."

"This generous?" Ye Chen glanced at Xu Fu.

"As an alchemist, witnessing a nine-mark pill in my lifetime would be the greatest honor." Xu Fu took a swig of wine, his eyes full of anticipation. He believed Ye Chen could do it. A nine-mark pill emerging would be like a Great Emperor's appearance in the alchemy world—a legend—and his disciple Ye Chen would likely be the one to create it.

Ye Chen just smiled and gently tapped the furnace.

Immediately, a purple pill shot out from the furnace, accompanied by thunderous rumbles. The eight-mark pill's emergence triggered pill tribulation; only by passing it would it be complete.

Ye Chen didn't watch; he sat with Xu Fu, wine in hand, and handed over a storage bag. Inside were various pill formulas, the lowest being seven-mark pills. Not just formulas, but also insights into alchemy intent and the profound mysteries of the art.

"Back in the day, you..."

"Get lost, don't get sentimental." Xu Fu hadn't finished before Ye Chen cut him off.

Xu Fu looked awkward, his face darkening. He hadn't even finished, and it felt stifling.

"For quite some time, I'll be here refining pills." Ye Chen said earnestly.

"Then what?" Xu Fu glanced at him.

"Then learn from it." Ye Chen replied, waving to catch the pill that had survived the tribulation, and casually tucked it into his pocket. This made Xu Fu's face darken again. You little brat, even more shameless than before—just take an eight-mark pill like that?

Ye Chen didn't mind. He looked into his Chaos Small Realm, where the materials for the Soul-Returning Pill were stored. After all these years, it was time to hone his alchemy skills and prepare for refining a nine-mark pill. Not for anything else, just for that pair of lovers.