Chapter 2731: The Damned Heavens

Boom! Rumble!

The void was filled with rolling black clouds, lightning flashing and thunder roaring, enveloping the universe in a terrifying pressure.

Crack! Crack!

Such sounds echoed throughout the world below. Long Yi cursed the heavens, and many others joined in, suffering from dreadful heavenly punishment as the cracking of bones inside their bodies rang out one after another.

The scene was truly chilling to behold. Numerous elderly Zhun Di had become bloodied figures, rushing here to watch the alchemy process and clustering together, only to end up cursing the vast heavens in a group.

The majesty of the heavens could not be defied, and heavenly punishments manifested frequently as lightning.

However, apart from Ye Chen, no one dared to activate their Xue Ji Jie Xian again.

"Don't make a fuss."

Ren Wang roared in anger, scanning the crowd. If you want to curse, wait until the pill is formed. One Ye Chen has already provoked the heavenly punishment—you lot shouldn't stir up more chaos. Is heavenly thunder really something to toy with?

No need for him to say it; the old folks had already quieted down. They stopped cursing not because they didn't want to, but because they didn't dare. Not everyone could activate the Xue Ji Jie Xian. If they kept going, they'd all be consumed by the heavenly thunder. Better to stay put and avoid getting hurt or killed.

Though they had stopped, the faint rumbling in the void continued.

It was Ye Chen cursing. Without even needing the Xue Ji Jie Xian, he dared to do it, let alone now in his indestructible state. He felt an unprecedented desire to slaughter the heavens.

Cursing was one thing, but refining the pill was another. With the evil demon dead, the long-held wish had to continue.

By now, thousands of xian material had been added to the alchemy furnace, their essences refined by the hun dun huo and fused with the evil demon's spirit. One after another, they integrated, forming the pill's illusory shape.

"Even if the Huan Hun Dan is refined and Mu Liu Qing is revived, it will still be a tragedy."

Donghuang Tai Xin sighed.

He wasn't the only one sighing; many others could foresee that scene. The evil demon had waited through endless ages, but the revived Mu Liu Qing would follow her old path, searching in memories for her shadow. That ancient romance, after countless trials, would still be missing one person.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The alchemy furnace hummed, its dense medicinal fragrance spreading across the heavens and earth. It carried vast life force, and on the massive cloud platform, new sprouts emerged from the soil, bursting with vibrant life.

This was the dominance of the Huan Hun Dan—it had heaven-defying restorative power. Even before the pill was complete, that reviving ability was hidden in the fragrance. Many who inhaled it felt invigorated, especially the old folks, whose depleted lifespans showed signs of a final surge.

"The legendary Jiu Zhuan Huan Hun Dan truly lives up to its name."

Chu Jiang Wang exclaimed in admiration. Just a few wisps of its fragrance held such miraculous power.

As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Qin Guang Wang.

Qin Guang Wang's hair had turned white unnoticed, his once deep eyes now dull and lifeless. He seemed utterly drained, more desolate than ever.

Ah!

The other Yama kings all sighed. The evil demon was devoted, but so was Qin Guang Wang. Born in the same era, he had silently loved that evil god. Seeing her perish and become a spirit, it was as if he had lost all purpose.

A breeze blew by, and Qin Guang Wang suddenly turned and walked away, step by step, his figure growing more distant and lonely, his back hunched.

Song Di wanted to follow but was held back by Chu Jiang Wang. Let him be alone; it's for the best.

"Damned Tian."

Tai Shan Wang muttered a curse, provoking another heavenly punishment and making him cough up blood violently.

Compared to him, Ye Chen was faring much better, thanks to his Xue Ji Jie Xian.

The pill's fragrance grew even denser, and more sprouts broke through the earth across the land, growing visible branches, leaves, and buds that bloomed into flowers.

"This is far more dominant than any Di Dao Shen Dan."

Those who had once been alchemists in the Dan Shen Dian took a deep breath. They had witnessed the Dan Shen refining Jiu Wen Dan, and now they saw Ye Chen refining the Huan Hun Dan—clearly not in the same league. Even the fragrance alone had such power; no one could imagine how terrifying the actual pill would be.

"Perhaps the Huan Hun Dan truly has the ability to revive its owner."

Dan Zong murmured to himself, and the Kunlun old daoist agreed. Whether revival was possible would only be known once the pill was formed. They were all curious to see just what kind of divine being the evil demon's lover was.

"That's over three thousand materials now."

The younger alchemists silently counted. Every time Ye Chen added a xian cao, they noted it down, and the more they did, the more astonished they became. Each material was a rare treasure of the world, with many already extinct. They had no idea how Ye Chen and his group had gathered them all.

Beyond that, the alchemy process was incredibly intricate. Just watching it made their heads spin. Gathering the materials didn't guarantee success—at least, they couldn't do it. Any slip in the process could lead to failure, demanding extremely precise alchemy skills and expertise. Perhaps only a Dan Sheng could truly succeed.

Veteran alchemists like Xu Fu were filled with emotion.

Tracing back, Ye Chen's alchemy skills were something he had taught. Now, his student had far surpassed the master. Ye Chen could refine Jiu Wen Dan, while he himself was still stuck at the Ba Wen level.

"Jiu Niang, can Dad really refine the Huan Hun Dan?"

On a nearby cloud, Ye Ling glanced at Ji Ning Shuang, her big eyes blinking curiously.

"He can."

Ji Ning Shuang replied without hesitation, her word carrying absolute faith. She believed unconditionally that Ye Chen would continue the evil demon's wish, creating the Huan Hun Dan against the heavens and reviving Mu Liu Qing.

Ye Ling clenched her little fists, equally certain. The young girl's heart was deeply moved—touched by the evil demon and tearful over that romance. The old predecessors had loved so bitterly.

"If you died and needed someone to become a pill spirit, I'd sacrifice myself too."

Tang San Shao suddenly said, his round eyes shining with determination.

"Don't jinx me."

"I'm serious. Aren't you touched? Don't you feel like marrying me?"

"Get lost."

"Don't cause trouble." Chu Ling glared at them. Those two kids never settled down, no matter where they were.

Ye Ling stuck out her little tongue and scooted closer to Ji Ning Shuang.

Yao Chi's beautiful eyes were occasionally dazed. She watched the alchemy but thought of the Taotie and evil gods. She felt a profound gratitude from her soul, an eternal mark.

Back then, without the evil demon's chaotic romance, she and Ye Chen might have forgotten each other in the mundane world.

Though her love was humble, she still felt grateful to that primordial great god for granting her that bond.

"Mother, why are you crying?"

Ye Fan turned to look at her.

"Fan Er, remember the name Cang Lan. Make sure to pay respects in the future."

Ji Ning Shuang smiled through her tears.

Boom! Rumble!

Accompanied by thunder, ancient visions appeared in the void. Pill visions emerged—a hazy chaos that depicted all things in existence. Every mountain, river, plant, and tree was infused with pill essence, along with Ye Chen's Dao. A single Huan Hun Dan encompassed everything and seized heaven's creation.

The world gazed up in awe, their expressions stunned. The visions formed before the pill was even complete?

Ye Chen waved his hand, adding another xian material. For a brief moment, it seemed as if a graceful figure was dancing ethereally in the alchemy furnace, her movements dreamlike and beautiful.

It was the evil demon's spirit, her beautiful eyes glancing back at the ancient ages, smiling at her lover.

"I'm counting on you."

That soft whisper echoed in his ear, carrying the evil demon's wish and her feelings. Who knew how that heartless heaven could be so cruel, toying with the mortal world like this?

Shaking off his thoughts, he flicked his sleeve again, tossing in over a hundred xian material.

Now, the pill's illusory form in the furnace had taken shape, with pill patterns slowly etching themselves one by one. Each pattern that appeared triggered a boom from the heavens. Jiu Wen were the pinnacle of pills in the world, like emperors among cultivators—touching taboos and provoking the hidden will of the universe.

"If this pill emerges, it will surely alter the trajectory of the Di Dao changes."

Ren Wang spoke thoughtfully, seeing it most clearly. In the future, the heavens and earth would shift faster with the appearance of the Jiu Zhuan Huan Hun Dan, bringing even more variables to this era.