Chapter 2369: Obsessed

Zi Xuan glared fiercely at him, turned around, and walked away, but she didn't leave; she stayed in Heng Yue Sect.

Ye Chen didn't mind and fell into silence.

Zhutian will have a new emperor! This thought echoed endlessly in his mind, though he didn't know who it would be—Zhutian Sword God? Da Chu Sovereign? Di Zun Shen Jiang? Or some other peerless hero.

This question would remain unanswered until the new emperor emerged.

Slowly collecting his thoughts, he glanced once more at the various chambers before turning away himself.

Returning to the Ling Dan Pavilion, he saw Dan Lei, and Xu Fu was there, showing off as usual. But when Xu Fu spotted Ye Chen, he toned it down. No matter how boastful he tried to be, he couldn't outdo the Dan Saint—that was the real beast. Spending time with him just led to more awkward moments.

Ye Chen said nothing and took out his alchemy furnace.

During this, he couldn't help but glance at Qi Yue. The girl was still pondering the Emperor Dao Darkness, and she hadn't fully comprehended it yet. Over the past year, she had been backlashed countless times.

Bei Sheng was quite understanding, explaining the profound meanings to her more than once, acting very much like an elder sister.

Ye Chen withdrew his gaze, summoned his immortal fire, and began refining a four-pattern elixir.

At dawn, Tian Zhi arrived, seeking the eternal thought. A year had passed, and she still hadn't grasped it. Not just her—Bei Sheng was the same. They had obtained the immortal technique but couldn't fathom it.

Ye Chen deeply regretted this, as he himself hadn't comprehended the laws of time.

After that, Tian Zhi left, and Bei Sheng followed her out.

Then, the two beauties started a fight in the starry sky, battling fiercely for over eight hundred rounds without a clear winner, both ending up covered in wounds.

Night quietly fell.

Thunder rumbled as it began, triggered by the four-pattern elixir Ye Chen had refined. This Dan Lei was much stronger than that of a one-pattern elixir, featuring not only lightning but also various illusions.

In the night, people stood on peaks here and there, quietly watching.

Heng Yue Sect had thunder rumbling every so often, and the disciples and elders were used to it by now. They all knew Ye Chen was using a decade to comprehend alchemy in hopes of refining the Soul-Returning Elixir.

In the first three years, they had witnessed the impossible. Elixirs were graded, and only high-level ones attracted Dan Lei, but Ye Chen had broken the norms, producing Dan Lei for every pattern. He truly deserved the title of Dan Saint, his achievements already surpassing those of Dan Zu.

In the following days, Dan Lei appeared frequently, manifesting illusions that grew more profound each time.

In the quiet night, the evil demon returned, standing before the Ling Dan Pavilion and gazing silently at the void. Those strands of elixir thunder were like beacons of hope, making her mind hazy. Although she had been searching for materials in the starry sky, she had heard plenty about the events in Da Chu's Heng Yue Sect, such as how the Dan Saint was refining and comprehending elixirs, each one drawing Dan Lei, his alchemy skills defying heaven itself.

She knew Ye Chen was honing his alchemy this way, all to prepare for refining the Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Elixir. Even the monstrous Dan Saint had no guarantee of success; he only possessed the qualifications.

Under the moonlight, Chi Mei Xie Shen smiled, for the first time without any malice, a warm current flowing through her entire body.

Over the years, so many people had helped her gather materials—emperors, god generals, sword gods, all her friends were assisting. If searching for materials was like waging a war, she wasn't fighting alone. Her hope had become the hope of all the quasi-emperors, all wishing for that person's revival.

Slowly closing her eyes, she then entered the Ling Dan Pavilion.

Ye Chen had just finished the four-pattern elixir and glanced at the evil demon, feeling a pang of heartache. She no longer had any of the primordial god's majesty; instead, she was clearly exhausted, her face haggard, her hair disheveled, and her whole body covered in the dust of time.

"If you're tired, take a rest."

Ye Chen said, crushing an eight-pattern elixir and infusing its essence into her. It was a healing sacred medicine, and the evil demon had wounds both new and old. In the past few years, she had likely ventured into many terrifying places and faced numerous dreadful beings.

The evil demon smiled wearily and handed him a storage bag.

Ye Chen hurriedly took it. Inside were a divine fruit, a vine, and an immortal herb—all materials for refining the Soul-Returning Elixir, though incomplete and already extinct in the world.

As for the fourth material, even he couldn't help but frown. It was a blood-red lotus flower, found only in places of extreme calamity, vicious and terrifying, where even emperors dared not tread.

He had only heard of such ominous places but never seen one.

"For his revival, you've truly gone obsessed."

Ye Chen glanced at the evil demon and said, "Mark down the location of that ominous place. Once Di Huang predecessor awakens, he will help you."

The evil demon smiled. "How much more do we need?"

Ye Chen pulled out the formula for the Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Elixir. Through years of collection and gifts from Di Huang, the formula was now complete. Comparing the materials, many were still missing, and whether they could be found was uncertain, as the great changes in heaven and earth had made most extinct.

The evil demon said nothing and waved her hand again, offering true fire.

Ye Chen didn't hesitate, setting aside alchemy for now to fuse the flames.

Over the years, people had brought treasures every so often, like true fire. He had merged countless immortal fires, getting closer to Chaos Fire, but there were no signs of transformation. It was like a peak quasi-emperor to an emperor—just half a step away, yet that gap was like a chasm.

Thus, for immortal fire to nirvana into Chaos Fire, it was like a cultivator advancing levels—it required some mysterious opportunity. Without that spark of fate, merging more true fire would be futile.

With a sigh, he stood up again, gathered the materials and formula, and continued refining elixirs.

The evil demon didn't leave; she sat on the stone steps, quietly spacing out, probably taking a moment to rest.

Sometime later, she took out a mirror.

After so many years, she looked at her reflection again. Her face was pale, etched with exhaustion and the marks of time, far from her former glory.

She smiled again, picked up a comb, and tidied her disheveled hair. A few silver strands stood out starkly. She had aged, worn down bit by bit by the years.

Not far away, Qi Yue and Bei Sheng watched silently. As women themselves, they understood the evil demon's state of mind. If Mu Liu Qing were in Ye Chen's place, they would do the same. Even the slightest hope, they would never give up, even at the cost of their lives.

This was the emotion of the human world—it drove people obsessed and mad.

In the dead of night, Cang Lan left again, dragging her fatigue and the dust of travel, embarking once more on her journey. In her dim eyes, that flicker of hope never faded. From the primordial era to now, after countless tens of thousands of years, that persistence had become an obsession.

Ye Chen watched her go in silence.

This departure might mean many more years, and when she returned, she would likely look even older.

"You should feel fortunate."

Ye Chen murmured to himself, referring to Mu Liu Qing. Dead for endless ages, yet still, a woman was willing to weave a myth of love for him. That story was tragic and beautiful.

"I say, is this about to explode?"

Xu Fu nudged Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's thoughts were interrupted, and he snapped back to attention.

Then came a deafening boom—it really exploded.

Ye Da Shao stood there steadily, covered in soot, having lost focus while refining and forgotten he was in the middle of it. Even the Dan Saint had awkward moments, caught off guard and blowing up the furnace.

"Focus when you're refining."

Xu Fu stroked his beard, adopting a senior's demeanor as he lectured his junior. He had finally caught the chance and was going to give him a good talking-to.

Ye Chen ripped off his clothes and changed into a new dao robe, shooting a sideways glance at the guy. Xu Fu was quite leisurely tonight—or more accurately, he had finished comprehending one-pattern elixirs for now. After being so busy, he had given himself a short break to rest for the day.

Xu Fu kept stroking his beard, standing tall and straight, returning the sideways glance. What, you blew up the furnace and I can't say anything? Don't forget, I'm your master.

"I have a little donkey that I never ride."

A streak of light darted into the Ling Dan Pavilion—it was the little spirit child. After becoming a quasi-emperor, he had been in seclusion for half a year. As a quasi-emperor level Overlord Dragon, he still looked like a child, but his origin was more refined, his bloodline reverted, and his divine treasures fully unlocked.

"That bald guy got beaten again."

The little spirit child floated in mid-air, sharing stories from the starry sky. "That male eternal body is seriously strong, finished him with one slap."

"As expected."

Ye Chen said, replacing the furnace. He was certain that Long Wu would keep challenging the male eternal body, growing stronger with each defeat. Pressure brought motivation, and the remnant soul of Long Di had its pride, destined to rise and eventually defeat the eternal body.

The eternal body would become his whetstone, turning this rusty iron into a peerless divine sword. The day the sword was forged would be the true final battle.

The little spirit child left—or more precisely, was sent away by Bei Sheng with a slap, sending him flying who knows how far. For groping people, he deserved it.

After that night, Ye Chen set up a barrier, isolating the entire Ling Dan Pavilion.

Da Chu's tenth emperor was putting all his effort into it, desperately refining elixirs to hone his skills. Mainly, the evil demon had moved him, with his grand wish for lovers to unite. He wanted to fulfill it for her and believed he could refine the Soul-Returning Elixir—he had to. Not for the glory of the Dan Saint, but for that pair of ill-fated lovers to live and meet again.

The path of comprehending elixirs, accompanied by Dan Lei, passed day by day.

The fourth year flashed by in an instant, and the mysteries of refining elixirs had become true principles.

The fifth year arrived, and Xie Yun returned from his cultivation in the starry sky, bringing news that Xi Yan had broken through, bathing in billions of thunderbolts, undergoing nirvana in life and death to become a quasi-emperor.

Following that, Situ Nan returned as a quasi-emperor.

Under the moonlight, Dan Lei appeared again, this time for a five-pattern elixir, outlining illusions across a stretch of starry sky. Once the Dan Lei dissipated, the starry sky illusions merged into it, forming a round elixir unmatched by any other five-pattern one, infused with elixir essence and dao essence.

In the sixth year, the Dan Lei for the six-pattern elixir was even stronger than for the five-pattern, drawing elixir illusions that were still a starry sky, now dotted with stars, dazzling and brilliant.

That year, Qin Yu returned from the starry sky, Du Gu Ao's disciple with exceptional talent. He had comprehended the great dao, found his breakthrough opportunity, and advanced to quasi-emperor against the heavens.

The news he brought made Ye Chen smile: Xuan Nu and Luo Xi had also advanced to quasi-emperor but hadn't returned; they had gone deeper into the starry sky to continue comprehending the dao.

Time flew, and the seventh year quietly arrived.

The Dan Lei for the seven-pattern elixir was significantly stronger, and the starry sky illusions it manifested had even more stars, each with a touch of spirituality. The elixir patterns upon completion were extraordinarily radiant.

Bathed in moonlight, the Ling Dan Pavilion was quite peaceful. Nian Wei stepped out of the Precious Lotus Lamp. After nearly a decade, she had reshaped her primordial spirit and physical body, completing a great nirvana and fully reviving.

"Thank you."

Ye Chen smiled, speaking on behalf of all living beings. If not for Nian Wei's sacrifice back then, he wouldn't have become a quasi-emperor, and Di Huang wouldn't have returned to suppress the primordial chaos.

Nian Wei smiled gently. If it happened again, she would still do it without hesitation. Her eyes carried tenderness; in this life and the previous, after two brushes with death, she no longer hid it.

"Another one."

Bei Sheng sat on the steps, hands supporting her chin, able to see Nian Wei's tenderness was for whom. As a woman herself, she understood. That guy named Ye Chen really had some magic; he was so shameless, yet irresistibly charming.

Beside her, Qi Yue smiled, her gaze at Ye Chen also dreamy. What drew her in wasn't his charm, but his story, which was intoxicating.

Ye Chen handed her a storage bag, filled with various Emperor Dao immortal techniques, elixirs, secret scrolls, and cultivation materials.

"Thank you."

Nian Wei smiled again and didn't refuse.

In the dead of night, Nian Wei left to cultivate in the starry sky.

Before departing, she made a bold move, leaving a red lip print on Ye Chen's face, then fled like the wind, her cheeks flushed.

"Still full of surprises."

Ye Chen touched his face, chuckling, and couldn't help glancing at Qi Yue and Bei Sheng. Who knows, they might rush over and leave their own lip prints.

But in reality, he was overthinking it. The two beauties had no such intention—one was trimming flowers and plants, the other holding a small mirror to apply makeup, acting as if nothing had happened.

Ye Chen coughed and focused on refining elixirs.

A year passed, and the eighth year arrived.

The Dan Lei for the eight-pattern elixir was truly powerful, with each bolt interwoven with elixir essence and dao essence, forming illusions that were an entire vast universe, leaving the people of Heng Yue Sect gazing upward in astonishment.

"In this era with him around, we're all quite embarrassed."

Xie Yun sighed.

"In this era with him, alchemists are also quite embarrassed."

Situ Nan's words were full of meaning.

Liu Yi and Nangong Yue were more reserved but couldn't help self-mockery. In the cultivation realm, Ye Chen crushed his generation, and in alchemy, he was truly the saint of elixirs. Even if Dan Zu were alive, he couldn't overshadow his brilliance, let alone Dan Wang, who had long been surpassed.

In the Ling Dan Pavilion, the most awkward one had put away his furnace, standing with hands behind his back, head raised in observation. Elixirs had their Dan Lei and illusions, and the ones from Ye Chen's eight-pattern elixir were exceptionally extraordinary, with stars shining brightly, each possessing spirituality.

Compared to Ye Chen, his achievements over the eight years were something, but far from this monster's. He was still comprehending two-pattern elixirs, and out of ten attempts, only three or four produced Dan Lei.

He was watching, and so was Ye Chen.

Eight-pattern elixirs were now his standard level. In the days ahead, until the end of the decade, he would comprehend eight-pattern elixirs to derive the techniques for nine-pattern ones.

As he spoke, the Dan Lei had dispersed. He collected the elixir and reignited his immortal fire.

In comprehending elixirs, he had reached the peak, but he always felt something was missing.