Chapter 2583: Whose Wedding Dress

What is happening?

The Emperor Dao Nine Pattern Divine Pill refined by Dan Shen, how could it transform into Ye Chen?

Could it be that he swallowed the pill?

From the heavens above to the earth below, from the Immortal Monarchs to the Star Monarchs, from the great Dan Zong masters to the lowly Dan Tong apprentices, everyone was completely baffled, unable to explain the scene before them. A perfectly fine Nine Pattern Pill, and it had turned into a human form.

And not just any form—it was Ye Chen.

In that instant, the heavens and earth fell utterly silent.

Everyone held their breath, afraid that even a heavy sigh might make them miss the thrilling moments ahead.

You... you...

The prolonged silence was finally shattered by Dan Shen's words.

Dan Shen's aged body trembled violently, his finger pointing at Ye Chen shaking uncontrollably. His once gentle expression was gone, replaced entirely by a grotesque snarl, his eyes bloodshot with rage.

Others might not see it, but as Dan Shen himself, how could he not? The Ye Chen who had become the Dan Spirit hadn't truly died. Not only that, he had swallowed the pill.

But Dan Shen couldn't fathom how Ye Chen had revived. He had clearly refined him to death.

Well, that was the point.

He had underestimated Ye Chen. Ye Chen had refined his own Dao and transformed it, using his human form to embody the Dao, and with the Dao to return as human. He had died, but his spirit and Dao endured.

Senior, it seems my acting skills are a cut above yours.

Ye Chen smiled, his words drifting ethereally. His snow-white hair swayed gently, his illusory robes fluttering like those of a banished immortal, his Dao aura naturally emanating from within. Compared to Dan Shen's frenzied eyes, Ye Chen's were like calm ancient wells, deep and crystal clear.

You knew all along?

Dan Shen gritted his teeth.

Senior, you underestimate the emperor of Da Chu.

Ye Chen chuckled.

The wine is fine wine, the tea is fine tea. Fine wine pairs with fine tea, schemes pair with schemes. Life is still that play; you and I are both actors.

You...

Dan Shen staggered back a step, choking on his breath, and spat out a mouthful of blood right then and there.

Only now did he realize who had truly been outmaneuvered.

He was putting on an act, and Ye Chen was doing the same. From the moment Ye Chen drank the Dao Wine, it had all been a performance.

He was shocked, unable to believe it—shocked by Ye Chen's cunning mind, incredulous at Ye Chen's audacity. With the cultivation of a Great Saint, he had dared to take such risks: drinking the Dao Wine, allowing himself to be captured, entering the heavenly prison, all just to make the act as convincing as possible, even fooling Dan Shen himself.

The proof was clear: Ye Chen's acting skills outshone his.

It wasn't that Dan Shen was scheming against Ye Chen; from start to finish, Dan Shen had been unwittingly preparing the way for him.

This grand drama had Ye Chen as the lead.

And Dan Shen? Merely a supporting role, a pitiful one at that. The alchemy materials he had sought for thousands of years, the Emperor Dao Divine Pill he had refined with endless effort, had become Ye Chen's fortune.

Their conversation was heard crystal clear by the world.

Those with sharp wits glanced at Ye Chen, then at Dan Shen, and in an instant, they understood.

Dan Shen saved Ye Chen originally to make him a Dan Spirit.

This time, it seems that's indeed the case. No wonder he didn't show up for nine days; what a massive scheme.

Unfortunately, he miscalculated.

The people's murmurs echoed across the various peaks.

Sighs, tsks of amazement, shocks, and laments—all sorts of voices blended into a roaring tide. They sighed at Ye Chen's cunning plan, tsked at Dan Shen's elaborate plot; shocked at Ye Chen's methods, lamented Dan Shen's downfall.

This was a play, but also a high-stakes gamble, a contest solely between Dan Shen and Ye Chen.

Dan Shen's acting was masterful, but Ye Chen's was divine.

That Great Saint realm figure had calculated every step, each one teetering on the edge of disaster: daring to drink the Dao Wine, daring to be taken captive, daring to enter the heavenly prison. Any slip would have led straight to the Yellow Springs Road.

Yet, Ye Chen pulled it off.

He didn't just have courage; his boldness was beyond measure.

The mighty Dan Shen Palace Lord, a genuine peak Quasi-Emperor, had been led step by step by him.

In this battle, he won spectacularly.

This battle also perfectly illustrated an ancient truth: fortune favors the bold.

Indeed, this fortune was more perilous than anyone imagined.

One could see that Ye Chen's seemingly calm smile hid a hint of lingering fear.

In that blend of truth and deception, the grand play had him on edge with every move. One wrong step, and it would have been utter ruin.

He had known about the Wu Dao Tea and Dao Wine since the various heavens.

Separately, they were treasures of the world, but together, they spelled disaster.

Like that night, when blood overflowed from his mouth, it was their combined effect.

He could have used reincarnation to dispel it, but for the plan, the act had to continue.

After drinking the Wu Dao Tea, along came the Dao Wine. In that moment, he saw through Dan Shen's scheme. Dan Shen must have known about the Wu Dao Tea, which is why he offered the Dao Wine—to precipitate Ye Chen's Dao principles, to use as a Dan Spirit, and refine it into the Emperor Dao Divine Pill.

Unfortunately, Dan Shen had calculated everything but overlooked Ye Chen's vast experience; his own acting fell short. In front of Ye Chen, no matter how well Dan Shen hid it, he couldn't mask that intense desire.

So, Ye Chen turned the tables and schemed against him.

Thus, that shocking plan was born.

He was gambling with his life, betting on that rare opportunity. How arduous it is to become a Quasi-Emperor; without heaven-defying fortune, there's no heaven-defying breakthrough.

Fortunately, he won the bet, successfully transforming into the Dao and then back into human form, swallowing the Emperor Dao Divine Pill and advancing his realm.

Of course, this was also due to his superior acting.

Without a journey through the Jiu You Huang Quan, one can't behold the Ling Xiao Xian Que.

Failed to steal the chicken and ended up losing the rice.

Hao Tian Xian Jun sighed, well aware of Dan Shen's state of mind. He had plotted for thousands of years, gathered the materials, found the Dan Spirit, refined the Nine Pattern Emperor Dao Divine Pill, but he hadn't foreseen the final step, resulting in total failure.

Dan Shen! Today, I've truly gained a new respect for you.

Compared to him now, I prefer the usual gentle and benevolent Dan Shen.

Disguised so well.

The discussions, like a tidal wave, filled the Dan Shen Palace. For the first time, the world saw the real Dan Shen. The stark difference between his past and present self was hard to accept.

Senior brother, you've changed.

Dan Zong murmured.

Even now, he could scarcely believe that his respected senior brother would scheme against a junior, resorting to any means for alchemy.

Little did he know, if he learned that Dan Shen had once considered him as a backup Dan Spirit, what expression he would wear.

Dan Feng fell silent, his smile enigmatic. His state of mind mirrored Dan Zong's; he never imagined his respected master uncle could be so ruthless.

Compared to them, Dan Jun's face was twisted in a grotesque fury. Still fiercely loyal, seeing Ye Chen swallow the Nine Pattern Pill filled him with rage.

The expressions of the Dan Shen Palace alchemists varied widely: some bewildered, some resentful, some unwilling, some sighing, each emotion played out to the fullest.

If not for this grand drama today, they wouldn't have known Dan Shen's true nature.

Life is full of surprises!

Si Ming clicked his tongue.

Over attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to defend against. Dan Shen plays a high game; almost got us hooked.

Tai Yi said, then laughed—a cold laugh.

Unfortunately, he picked the wrong opponent.

Tai Bai stroked his beard, his expression full of meaning.

This fellow acted as if nothing happened, but deep down, he wanted to give Ye Chen a thumbs-up and shout: Well done.

Yue Xin said nothing; tears welled in her eyes, born of excitement and joy.

That was the emperor of Da Chu, a war god and a master strategist, blending raw power with keen wisdom. Even Dan Shen was completely outmatched.

The young are to be feared.

Too many old folks sighed. This earth-shattering scheme was beyond them; no one else would dare attempt it.

He was gambling with his life.

Lose, and it would mean total destruction. Ye Chen had the guts they lacked.

Puff!

Amid the discussions, Dan Shen spat blood again.

Perhaps from the immense toll of refining the pill, or maybe from sheer anger, he staggered and nearly topple over.

Once he steadied himself, he lifted his eyes. His once clear old eyes were now bulging, threaded with blood vessels that dyed them crimson. Gazing at Ye Chen, his eyes brimmed with resentment and fury.

It was Ye Chen who had shattered his hopes.

Ye Chen said nothing, standing gracefully in place.

He had won, but there was no mockery or ridicule from him—only a faint trace of sorrow. He didn't know whether to pity Dan Shen or despise the cruel laws of the universe.

It was those laws that turned the pinnacle of hope into sheer despair.

It was those laws that reduced all living beings to mere playthings.

What should have been a vast and beautiful mortal world had twisted too many hearts because of them.

Whether scheming or acting, it was all desperate roars, tragic howls. That was the funeral song from the heavens and the death knell from hell, sung for the peerless heroes who fell on the path of enlightenment.

That road was paved with far too much blood and bone.

Without a doubt, Dan Shen would be one of them—pitiable and hateful, tragic and sigh-worthy. He hadn't just lost to Ye Chen; he had lost to the merciless laws. No matter how he howled, he would receive no mercy from the void.

This round, I admit defeat, but this old man hasn't lost yet.

Swallow you, and I can still achieve the Dao.

Dan Shen finally stood firm, grinning maliciously at Ye Chen. The last flicker of clarity in his eyes was eclipsed by desire and unwillingness.

You've lost your original heart; how can you attain the Great Dao?

Ye Chen said flatly.

In your eyes, the Emperor is too cheap.

I will become the Emperor.

Dan Shen roared.

Senior brother.

God blocks, kill God; Buddha blocks, slay Buddha.

Dan Shen howled in fury, ignoring Dan Zong's call. He shattered the sky with a single step and charged at Ye Chen like a deranged demon. He had reduced Ye Chen to nothing more than his Emperor Dao Divine Pill.

Not to mention Ye Chen—even if it were his own child, he would swallow him whole.

He was mad, utterly mad.

For the Emperor, he didn't hesitate to cast aside everything in the world. Even if it left him utterly alone, he wanted to catch a glimpse of that realm beyond the heavens.

Zheng!

The immortal sword rang out as Dan Shen's blade carved a vast, ancient immortal river, splitting the universe and cracking yin and yang. It was his ultimate strike; even the old immortal lords wouldn't dare face it head-on.

Ye Chen didn't speak; as the immortal river bore down, his body suddenly etherealized, becoming one with the Di Dao's illusion.

The old immortal lords wouldn't dare take it head-on, and neither would he. Dan Shen wasn't your average peak Quasi-Emperor; he was of the supreme tier. Having just broken through to Quasi-Emperor, Ye Chen hadn't stabilized his realm or fully absorbed the Emperor Dao Divine Pill's power yet—a direct clash would mean defeat.

Boom!

The heavens collapsed, torn in two.

Ye Chen vanished into the sky, evading Dan Shen's lethal blow, streaking like divine light straight into the depths of Dan Shen's immortal mountain.

His valuable treasures were still hidden there.

Suppress!

Dan Shen roared, slamming a palm from the heavens. A massive five-finger seal crashed down on his own Dao mansion immortal mountain, heedless of the Dan Shen Palace's foundations or the exotic flowers and herbs within, all just to crush Ye Chen.