Chapter 2567: Nine Patterns?

Chapter 2567: Nine Patterns?

Buzz! Buzz!

In the quiet Zizhu Lin, only the rumbling of the dan furnace echoed.

As the referee, Bixia Xianzi remained silent, sitting nearby and leisurely brewing tea. Occasionally, she glanced at the two figures, curious about what kind of dan Dan Zong was refining, as she had never seen it before. She was also unsure about what Ye Chen was refining, since his dan furnace was enhanced with a concealing secret technique, making it impossible even for her to see through.

This applied to Dan Zong as well.

Under their watchful eyes, Ye Chen created two clones, and his xian fire split into three. His true self and the two clones all surrounded the dan furnace, each controlling the flames. From time to time, he casually tossed in a material, with movements that were strikingly synchronized.

"This is some refining method?"

Dan Zong also raised an eyebrow. He had never seen clones used to assist in refining dan before. Refining dan was different from other tasks; clones were not the true self, and any momentary distraction could cause the furnace to explode. This was especially true with two clones.

Ye Chen's expression remained indifferent. Since returning from borrowing the law, he had been silent.

At some point, a faint glint flashed in his eyes. He saw Dan Zong add three types of xian grasses one after another, all of which had gone extinct in the heavens.

"Nine Patterns Life-Extending Dan."

Ye Chen murmured softly, finally recognizing what Dan Zong was refining. As expected, it was a nine-pattern dan. He didn't have the dan formula for the Nine Patterns Life-Extending Dan, but he had seen a fragmented version, and those three xian grasses were among them.

However, he didn't believe Dan Zong could successfully refine a nine-pattern dan. This was his intuition as a dan refiner. Although Dan Zong was strong, he lacked a certain aura—one that could produce a nine-pattern dan. It was like the opportunity for a breakthrough: something that could be encountered but not sought.

In a brief moment, Ye Chen withdrew his gaze.

Still, he had to admire Dan Zong. He was even stronger than Dan Jun. Ye Chen couldn't imagine how terrifying Dan Shen, the lord of Dan Shen Hall, must be. Perhaps, as the rumors in the heavens suggested, Dan Shen had truly refined a nine-pattern xian dan before.

Time slipped away quietly.

The bamboo grove remained silent, with the rich fragrance of dan medicine filling Dan Fu. This caused passing immortals at night to stop unconsciously, knowing without looking that Ye Chen was refining dan, and that the level of the dan was quite high.

Dawn was approaching, and the morning bells for the court assembly had already rung.

On this day, Bixia Xianzi did not attend the assembly, and neither did Ye Chen and Dan Zong, who were busy refining. Many other xian juns were also absent, likely wandering in some remote mountains, diligently searching for true fire to ask Ye Chen to refine dan for them.

Remarkably, some actually found it and rushed straight to Dao Fu.

Unfortunately, a dan duel was underway in Zizhu Lin, reinforced by barriers, so the arriving xian juns were all blocked. One by one, they left dejectedly.

Another day passed quietly, and even more xian juns came seeking Ye Chen to refine dan. With no movement from the bamboo grove, they gathered in the pavilion, waiting patiently. Each had found some true fire and was playfully competing with it, passing the time idly.

On the third day, Si Ming Xing Jun arrived, his steps hurried.

He had just emerged from seclusion after two days and was shocked to see the heavenly barrier dissipate, so he came looking for Ye Chen. Sadly, he arrived too late; Ye Chen had already returned to Grand Chu and stirred up immense fury, etching a deep killing intent toward the primordial lands into his soul once more.

If even the xian juns were blocked, there was no chance for him. He stood outside the bamboo grove, waiting for a long time without seeing Ye Chen, then left disheartened.

The moment he stepped out of Dao Fu, he looked up at the misty sky and shook his head helplessly. The heavenly barrier had reappeared without warning or pattern. Who knew when it would open next?

After he left, Dan Jun appeared.

His arrival drew the attention of the crowd of xian juns. It was the first time they had seen him since the dan duel that day. His face was quite gloomy; though he tried to suppress it, he couldn't hide the underlying ferocity. He gritted his teeth, his icy killing intent unrestrained.

He had come to settle scores with Ye Chen.

Regrettably, he couldn't enter the bamboo grove either.

The xian juns watched with hands clasped behind their backs, finding it quite amusing, especially seeing Dan Jun's face. It felt inexplicably satisfying. Let's see you act arrogantly now! Asking you to refine a furnace of dan was harder than climbing to heaven. Well, here's your retribution! Go on, keep showing off!

Seeing the looks from the crowd, Dan Jun's face grew even more ferocious. He abruptly flicked his sleeves and turned to leave. He had truly become a laughingstock in the heavens.

"I'd love to see Dan Shen's expression when he emerges from seclusion."

"It's bound to be ugly. His carefully nurtured disciple actually lost to a minor Xing Jun."

"Who knows, Dan Shen might even challenge Ye Chen to a dan duel."

Watching Dan Jun's retreating figure, the xian juns chatted away, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Just wait! Once Dan Shen comes out, things will get even more lively. Dan Shen Hall has been utterly defeated, so as its lord, he must reclaim their honor.

After retracting their gazes, the crowd turned back to the bamboo grove.

It had already been two days and a night, and Ye Chen still hadn't emerged. The wait was making them restless.

Buzz! Buzz!

The rumbling from the dan furnace in the bamboo grove grew stronger. Dan Zong's furnace was fine—it was a quasi-emperor artifact, sturdy enough to use in battle if needed.

Ye Chen's dan furnace, however, was extremely agitated, showing signs of potentially exploding.

Bixia Xianzi glanced sideways, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. She was worried about Ye Chen. At this critical stage, an explosion would be disastrous—not only wasting precious materials but also losing his Wan Mie Xian Yan.

Yet, Ye Chen's expression remained unchanged—or more precisely, expressionless.

The furnace wouldn't explode. Its agitation was due to not just one dan inside; their auras were clashing and mutually nourishing. With the last xian grass added, they had truly taken shape and were fusing their auras.

Bixia Xianzi looked at Dan Zong again, her brows furrowing once more. She could tell that the dan he was refining was extraordinary, seemingly beyond the category of eight-pattern dan.

"Ye Chen, you little brat, come out quickly."

As she watched, a loud shout suddenly came from outside, shaking the entire Dan Fu and waking the dozing xian juns.

The newcomer was a major figure: Hao Tian Xian Jun. He was the first to seek Ye Chen for refining dan and had been out for three or five days, managing to find a strand of true fire before rushing back. He carried an air of authority, even walking with a commanding presence.

Oh?

Upon entering Dao Fu, Hao Tian Xian Jun saw the crowd of xian juns in the pavilions—some drinking and playing chess, others sleeping soundly, each doing their own thing.

Many xian juns turned their heads, giving Hao Tian Xian Jun sidelong glances. You're all here for Ye Chen to refine dan, but you're the only one shouting like that, as if you're the only one without true fire. We all have it!

"You, get in line at the back." An elderly xian jun yawned. His cultivation and rank were no lower than Hao Tian Xian Jun's, so he looked at him with half-closed eyes.

Hao Tian Xian Jun coughed dryly, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked into the pavilion, glancing around. There were dozens of people there, all xian juns.

He settled down obediently in a comfortable spot and waited quietly, no longer putting on airs. After all, some of these xian juns were stronger than him and liked to beat him up for no reason. Better to behave and avoid a thrashing.

"So many xian juns waiting for a minor Xing Jun—how awkward."

"Who can blame him for being a dan refiner? Compared to Dan Jun, that little guy is still more agreeable."

"But who knows what kind of dan he's refining this time."

The xian juns were bored, doing all sorts of things, but they shared one consistent action: whenever they had a moment, they glanced toward the bamboo grove, hoping to be the first to rush in when the barrier lifted. Forget lining up—whoever runs fastest wins.

Buzz!

Amid the murmurs, a sudden hum resounded.

Then, a divine rainbow shot into the sky from the bamboo grove, incredibly dazzling. Upon closer inspection, it was a dan, drawing dan lightning. Surging dark clouds obscured the vast starlight, with thunder and lightning booming across the nine heavens.

"Nine Patterns Life-Extending Xian Dan?"

The xian juns abruptly stood up, staring blankly at the sky, their mouths dry. Such massive dan lightning, along with ancient visions manifesting, wasn't the sign of an eight-pattern dan—it seemed more like the legendary nine-pattern dan lightning, dominating heaven and earth.

"It's not nine patterns." The elderly xian jun pondered, waving his hand to part the mist and clouds, allowing the others to see more clearly.

As he said, it wasn't a nine-pattern dan. The ninth dan pattern was only half-formed, and it was just a shape without the true aura of a dan.

Ye Chen also looked up, seeing through it at a glance.

The dan Dan Zong refined was at a level between eight and nine patterns, similar to a cultivator's realm—like a Saint Venerable at the peak quasi-emperor level, belonging to the strongest pinnacle but not quite an emperor. Still, it was stronger than an ordinary pinnacle quasi-emperor.

Since it wasn't nine patterns, it was manageable.

Just as with cultivator realms, a strongest pinnacle quasi-emperor was powerful but not unbeatable. An emperor, however, was on a different level.

The same applied to dan; if it were a nine-pattern dan, an eight-pattern one couldn't compete. An extra dan pattern made all the difference.

Ah!

Dan Zong sighed. In the end, he couldn't defy the heavens. As a pinnacle quasi-emperor, just half a step from emperor, the dan he refined was like his own cultivation—only half a step from a nine-pattern xian dan, yet separated by an insurmountable chasm.

Thinking of this, he took a deep breath and looked at Ye Chen. Though not a nine-pattern xian dan, it was more than enough to defeat him.

As he watched, so did Bixia Xianzi. Dan Zong's Life-Extending Dan was far superior to the Fortune Dan Ye Chen had refined that day. A dan of this level far exceeded an eight-pattern dan, and unless something unexpected happened, Ye Chen would likely lose.

"Good heavens! Is that a nine-pattern dan?"

"Nine your sister—wake up! Look closer; it's eight-and-a-half patterns."

"From Ziwei Dao Fu—did Ye Chen refine it?"

The night, which should have been peaceful, was thrown into chaos by the massive dan lightning. Too many people emerged from their caves, gazing up in amazement, their eyes shining. Many headed toward Dao Fu, a sea of figures, especially the elderly with little lifespan left, who ran faster than anyone. That was a life-extending dan, after all—one that could prolong life.

At that moment, even many xian juns in seclusion came out, like streaks of divine light from all directions, their aged bodies trembling with excitement.

"Shishu, it's Shishu."

Dan Jun had arrived too, overjoyed, already guessing the situation. There must be a dan duel in Ziwei Dan Fu—one side was Ye Chen, and the other was undoubtedly Dan Zong, though the outside world was unaware.

As for why the duel, he knew best: it was for his Wan Mie Xian Yan and for the face of Dan Shen Hall. He had refined a dominant dan.

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