The little princess had yet to appear again, but the Sacred Daughter had come once to tell Yao Chen the many rules of his staying in Demon Valley. She gave him a bit of skin from a Greater Demon which was a sign he could walk throughout Demon Valley, and treating him as an alchemist guest, all kinds medicinal ingredients were provided to him in an endless supply. It reached the point where almost any medicinal ingredients he requested was brought over to him almost immediately.
But the prerequisite for all this was that Yao Chen refine enough medicinal pills for the demon race.
This wasn’t very difficult for Yao Chen at all. In the mountains he hadn’t just been focused on fleeing, but also on researching alchemy techniques. When it came to body tempering medicinal pills, they might only have the effect of boosting the bones and developing muscles for humans, but to the demon race they had a marvelous effect. After removing a couple furnaces of the pills for the medicinal bath and sending them over, Yao Chen’s status quickly rose.
But his relation with Qu Dongsheng and Hu Chen didn’t improve. Their goals were obviously to obtain the Yao clan’s foundational secret refining techniques. Calling them ‘foundational’ might make them seem ordinary, but this foundation essentially contained everything within it. Even obscure mysteries of the soul which were general within the Yao clan were still a complete secret that could not be transmitted. As long Yao Chen had a conscious, he would never sell out the clan for glory.
As for Feng Xian, he was called over by the Sacred Daughter every day, and he would only return late at night with a completely captivated expression.
“She seduces me but I can still just barely resist… brother Chen, let me do the medicinal bath again!”
Feng Xian trembled as he said this. He had to force himself to endure pain that pushed himself to the very limit of life and death in order to become stronger. Feng Xian knew that the demon race’s Sacred Daughter was just using him to practice her bewitching art. As a man, how could he let himself fall for a demon girl’s charm! Although he was young and virile, he was still an upright man.
Yao Chen smiled and nodded. It actually was pretty much time to undergo the medicinal bath again. The medicinal bath the two of them were taking had to be done at correct times; when they were in the mountains they could only barely maintain that timing, but in Demon Valley they weren’t lacking anything so they naturally could push it to the limit and undergo the treatment more often.
The medicinal bath’s pills had long since been prepared by them. Setting up the bath in the bathhouse, he poured in the crushed medicinal powder.
The demon clan lived the same way as beasts, so unless they could transform into human shape they all bathed in the pools behind the mountain. This ‘bathhouse’ cave had been made for the special purpose of any and all alchemist guests.
Yao Chen and Feng Xian hadn’t even been in there for long before Hu Chen walked over like a dark expression. He was mumbling and grumbling, and it was obvious he had just come from a failed refinement.
“Oh? Medicinal bath?” Hu Chen raised his head and saw the two of them soaking. Sniffing the medicinal aroma, a disdainful expression appeared on his face.
Hu Chen went over to spring and washed his face of the ashes from his failed refinement. He continued mockingly, “You don’t even know that a medicinal bath will leave behind toxins in the body that is practically impossible to remove. At your age, it truly can quickly increase your strength, however you’ll never manage to reach your peak potential.”
Yao Chen only indifferently smiled and ignored him, but Feng Xian who was experiencing intense pain became even more irritated and shouted, “That’s crap! This is Yao Chen’s recipe, so how could there be toxins!?
“No matter how excellent the recipe is, it will always leave behind toxins. This is something unavoidable. Even if you take detoxification pills afterwards, you won’t be able to expel the poison that has entered deep into your bones. If you only take it once or twice then it’s whatever, but if you take it too much, then you might be able to obtain a body of steel, but your realm will never progress again.”
Hu Chen walked over and smiled coldly at Feng Xian.
Yao Chen looked at Hu Chen and suddenly a thought popped into his head. “Senior Hu doesn’t need to be angry. What you said is generally true. But my medicinal bath recipe is a secret technique without any hidden toxins. Haha, with senior’s strength you can naturally tell whether it’s good or bad.”
Yao Chen took out one of the pills for the medicinal bath and threw it into Hu Chen’s hand.
“This is… huh, a fourth tier medicinal pill!”
After examining it for just a moment his expression changed slightly. “This pill…”
Yao Chen introduced it. “Marrow Washing Bone Carving Pill. It has many uses: when crushed into powder it can be used in the medicinal bath to improve the power of the body. When taken directly, it can strengthen the soul. It has zero hidden toxins.”
“Impossible!”
Hu Chen could not believe it, but this fourth tier pill truly did appear to have no hidden toxins to his senses! The holy ground and also had medicinal bath pills, but only those at least at the fifth tier could have no hidden toxin sequelae.
“It’s just a small secret recipe.”
“Yes… haha, kid, do you want to exchange it with me?”
“Exchange? I’m just talking. I’m very interested in senior Hu’s pill collecting art.”
“This… this is acceptable.”
A pill collecting art for a fourth tier medicinal bath pill formula with no hidden toxin sequelae was an excellent deal.
Hu Chen coldly smiled, “You won’t regret it?”
Yao Chen bitterly laughed, “Whatever I lack is what I will exchange for. What is there to regret?”
He truly did have no other method. Yao Chen only had the fundamentals he had learned in the Yao clan’s clan school. As for higher level techniques, he had seen quite a few but he didn’t completely understand them. In order to walk further along the path of alchemy. he had to study others’ refining arts in hopes of comprehending them.
Hu Chen’s pill receiving technique was very unique and was a completely different style than that of the Yao clan’s. One was used only when collecting the pill, the other was used when actually refining.
“Exchanging techniques is alright, but we must swear an oath not to transmit it to a third person. Whether it be a disciple or a wife, a brother or an elder.” Hu Chen was extremely firm on this point.
Yao Chen’s gaze brightened. “I also have an improved pill formula here. I wonder whether it can be exchanged for some tips from senior Hu? Senior Hu’s refining efficiency is very admirable.”
“Hmph… that will depend on what you take out.”
Hu Chen smiled coldly again, appearing extremely fierce… however, he only looked fierce. As the discussion flowed, Hu Chen quickly began to immerse him into the mysteries of new pill formulas. After talking with him some more, Yao Chen realized that while he appeared crafty, that was just his outer appearance. In his bones he was actually someone extremely dedicated to alchemy.
In comparison, Qu Dongsheng was someone who acted very amiable and did small kindnesses for people, but inside he was extremely shrewd. Each of his moves caused aftermaths that no one would ever expect. Over just a short time he had managed to steal quite a few refining techniques from Yao Chen just by watching.
But the Yao clan’s foundation was very particular and detailed. It was one that contained all of heaven’s creations. Each technique used a meticulous fusion of Dou Qi with it, and if you could learn it just by watching, then the outside world’s alchemists would have long since stolen it away hundreds and thousands of years ago. Currently all the world had were failed imitations that looked right but were actually wrong.
Although Hu Chen’s attitude was poor, he truly did exchange in equal trades.
And once something like this started, it was basically impossible to stop!
Time passed quickly. Three years later…
Yao Chen had once more grown taller and he had even started to grow a beard. But in comparison, Feng Xian’s transformation was even more shocking. Over these three years he had been constantly used as a practice target for the demon clan’s Sacred Daughter’s bewitching art. Feng Xian had already seen through her female charms, and transformed from the elegant and graceful son of a noble to become a true thick-skinned rough-voiced man.
The little princess had only come to see them three times in these three years. Every time she appeared extremely cheerless. It seemed she was cultivating some kind of technique that required her to stay in seclusion for long times.
It had already been half a year since the last time she had appeared.
“Brother Chen, senior Hu wanted me to tell you to come over. It seems the pill formula you gave him didn’t work and his cauldron exploded.”
Feng Xian ran into Yao Chen’s bedroom and called to the soundly sleeping Yao Chen.
“Ugh, he must have once more fallen into one of his bad habits and misunderstood something. Let me take a closer look at the alchemy technique I showed him… oh, I’m about to start meditating so call me for dinner.”
Yao Chen only opened his eyes and indifferently spoke for a moment before once more closing his eyes, entering a meditative state.
Although the little prince had only appeared three times, the building she had ordered those humans to build had continued to be built and had been finished a month ago under the efforts of those Da Dou Shis. A huge alchemy palace had been built on the waist of the mountain, and Yao Chen, Hu Chen, and Qu Dongsheng had all moved out of the mountain cave into the palace. Their living standards had immediately improved, the most important part being that now each person had a better guarantee of their secrets compared to living in the demonic cave.
Yao Chen automatically awoke from his meditative state for dinner. As soon as he left his room he ran into an anxious Hu Chen whose face was covered in ashes. “Old pal Yao, why are you meditating in the middle of the day? I have stuff I need to discuss with you.”
“Senior Hu?”
Over these three years Yao Chen had used pill formulas to exchange for Hu Chen’s many techniques. This benefited both of them, and their relationship also became much closer.
However what Hu Chen had wanted to gain from the start was the Yao clan’s core foundational refining arts. These foundational arts were definitely extremely high level and at the same time it was his only hope of refining the Yuan Transforming to Life Pill.
“Hmph, didn’t you want to enter the holy ground to study refining arts? There’s now an opportunity for you if you want to grasp it.”
“What opportunity?” Yao Chen’s eyes brightened. Over these three years with the exchanges with Hu Chen, his advancements were extremely great, and both Qu Dongsheng and Hu Chen both called him an absolute monster. Yao Chen had already exceeded the boundary of a fifth tier alchemist to refine sixth tier medicinal pills! And this was before Hu Chen even taught him the refining arts of the holy ground. If he could personally enter the holy ground and study, Yao Chen had full belief that his alchemy could immediately soar.
“Holy Pill City’s Pill Battle Competition. As long as you show yourself off during the competition you will be able to obtain the recommendation.”
A flicker appeared on Hu Chen’s face that didn’t escape Yao Chen’s attention. This Pill Battle Competition was definitely not as effortless as he described, and there might even be some personal grievances involved.
“How can I participate in it?”
“Well you can play the role of my disciple. You’ve exchanged for many of my techniques, so saying it like that shouldn’t raise too many questions.” Hu Chen’s voice was a bit unusual for him. Yao Chen was already a fifth tier alchemist, a fifth tier alchemist who wasn’t even eighteen years old! He was a genius amongst millions, and in terms of strength he wasn’t that far off from a sixth tier alchemist. And as for his potential, it was absolutely endless.
“That’s not a problem.”
Yao Chen didn’t really care about that. As long as he had the opportunity to enter the Pill Tower, anything was fine as long it didn’t involve selling out the Yao clan…
“Excellent hehe. Then that’s how we’ll put it. One month later I’ll bring you over. That old guy Qu Dongsheng will most likely be able to refine the Yuan Transforming to Life Pill within a couple days. We’ll be free once we finish that pill.”
Hu Chen laughed and patted Yao Chen on the shoulders. “He really is a devil. Just by watching you refine, that old man stole almost all your tricks. But don’t worry, that old man definitely won’t dare transmit them outside. The Yao clan’s thorns are something no one in the Central Plains would dare provoke.”
Yao Chen smiled bitterly. Over these years he had gained a much greater understanding of just how devilish Qu Dongsheng was. Qu Dongsheng who was almost eighty truly was a genius with extremely strong Spiritual Strength. Yao Chen even suspected his spirit had even reached the Heavenly State! He didn’t even use his eyes to look, but instead used his spirit to capture every single movement. However the most core things were things that could not be stolen. In reality, the core techniques required the Yao clan’s bloodline in order to be used. It was a heavenly gift that only those in the Yao clan could possess. That was why even though Yao Chen knew his techniques were being stolen, he didn’t care. And Qu Dongsheng was a smart man and had also often showed Yao Chen a couple things. Although he hadn’t exchanged as much as Hu Chen, the result wasn’t that different.
One month later…
Qu Dongsheng and Hu Chen worked together and finally refined twelve Yuan Transforming to Life Pills. They had used thirty-one years just to refine those twelve seventh tier pills.
When the pill formed, strange things occurred in heaven and earth, shaking Demon Valley. Although no Pill Thunder formed, Qu Dongsheng and Hu Chen both shouted out in joy.
Qu Dongsheng even began to cry. “Now I can finally return.”
The demon race’s Sacred Daughter arrived immediately. She was followed by twelve absolutely beautiful woman. They were all humans, and the weakest was still a Da Dou Shi.
“Old Qu, according to the agreement from thirty years ago, here are twelve concubines.”
“Excellent, and the things I wanted…”
“We already prepared them for you thirty years ago.” The Sacred Daughter respectfully offered a storage ring. Turning to Hu Chen she said, “Senior Hu, you joined us ten years ago and we have profited greatly. Other than the agreed upon terms, there are three beautiful concubines available. Is senior Hu interested?”
“Ah, women are too troublesome. And it’s not like I’m old demon Qu who wants to start a huge family…” Hu Chen’s face was filled with contradiction. He clearly wanted them, yet didn’t want them at the same time. Who didn’t want beautiful women? Moreover these were woman breed in Demon Valley, nourished properly even as a fetus. Their offspring were very likely to be powerful talents. This was the best way to quickly form a large family.
But Hu Chen wasn’t without a family, and was also considered half a disciple of the holy ground. Even if he accepted these women he wouldn’t know where to place them, so he could only decline regretfully.
The Sacred Daughter laughed and placed another Storage Ring in Hu Chen’s hand. “Since it’s like that, our agreement from that year is now completed. My Demon Valley will take eight pills, while the rest can be divided by you two seniors.”
“I’ll only take one pill, but another pill I feel should be given to Yao Chen,” said Hu Chen.
Qu Dongsheng’s expression was complicated, but after hesitating for a moment he also nodded, approving Hu Chen’s statement.
Yao Chen was startled, as this Yuan Transforming to Life Pill wasn’t very useful to the seventeen-year-old him. This was a pill for extending the lifespan, while what he needed was to increase his strength.
But in front of Hu Chen’s gaze he didn’t refuse.
“Ok, you three guests can leave whenever you want.”
As she said this she gave a deliberate glance at Yao Chen, suggesting she wanted to talk to him in private. When she left, Yao Chen found in excuse to leave as well. Walking out of the palace, he walked up to her and waved his hand.
“Sacred Daughter, is there anything you have to say to me?”
She blinked and said, “Yao Chen, now you have a chance to return to the Yao clan. Are you interested?”
“Ha, doesn’t Sacred Daughter know about what happened between me and the Yao clan? If I return then I might not just be forced into the bottom ranks, but my death might not be far off either.”
“With the name of the Demon Saint behind you, who would dare provoke you?”
“What is the precondition?”
“Try not to get close to the princess again. She cultivates a chilling-sky ice-earth freezing-soul Dou Qi technique. Before mastering it she can’t fall in love. Yao Chen, although she hasn’t fallen in love with you, if it continues like this then perhaps…”
Yao Chen coldly laughed, “Perhaps it’s also because I’m just a poor kid… don’t worry, I don’t have such an interest in the princess. We’re just friends.”
When he said this he felt that this was the truth, but… when he said it out loud his heart felt inexplicably emptier, as if something he thirsted for had been stripped away.
Perhaps it was just a misconception. He was just reluctant to leave Demon Valley.
“Are you just friends? Well that makes sense. Over these three years you’ve only seen each other a couple times. She… is in a critical moment of her cultivation.”
The Sacred Daughter nodded and took out a Storage Ring for Yao Chen. “These are a couple medicinal ingredients that can count as payment for these three years.”
“I can’t accept it. I’ve gained very much over these three years in Demon Valley, and in addition…” Yao Chen’s face reddened. Although he had refined many medicinal pills for Demon Valley, the amount of medicinal ingredients he had ruined was even greater. There was no way around it since he was still testing things around. The two of them basically counteracted each other, as the amount of medicinal pills he had refined could be exchanged for exactly how many medicinal ingredients he had ruined.
“Haha, then consider it Demon Valley’s investment in you.”
The Sacred Daughter placed the Storage Ring firmly in Yao Chen’s hand. She turned and was silent for a moment, seeming to want to say something more. However in the end she shook her head and floated away.
Just an hour later, Yao Chen was prepared to leave with Feng Xian, following Hu Chen. The difference between how they were leaving and how they arrived was that they were using a Transportation Dou Formation, and there was actually a set of them that saved them several days’ worth of travel. They quickly left the deep mountains and arrived at a flourishing human city.
“This is Azure Spirit City. We’ll take a Spatial Boat to the Pill Tower. Oh, and now I can tell you the truth about the Pill Battle Competition. Doing well there will allow you to attend the Pill Gathering, and then… well actually, I’m the same as you and am an exile of the Pill Tower. Back in the day I made a huge mistake and was ousted from my family for ten years…”
At this time Hu Chen began to tell him everything.
Originally it was actually Hu Chen’s mother who was a disciple of the Pill Tower. He was born into a high status and was also outstandingly talented. If no accident had occurred, he would have very likely taken his mother’s position in the Pill Tower, spending his whole life in service to it.
However just one accident caused him to make a huge mistake, even implicating his mother into losing her position. His mother was diminished while he was banished.
“But now those ten years of exile are over, and as long as I can make up for my mistake from ten years ago… I might not just be able to return to the Pill Tower, my mother might even be reinstated.”
Hu Chen stared closely at Yao Chen. “Your talent in alchemy is extremely great, and as long as you get a top ten position in the Pill Battle Competition you’ll have the qualifications to attend Pill City’s Pill Gathering a year later. Whether or not you decide to attend the Pill Gathering, I will have demonstrated my value… cough, so that’s how it is.”
So the actual reason Hu Chen had made the pretext Yao Chen was his disciple was because as long Yao Chen performed excellently at the Pill Battle Competition, Hu Chen would be able show his value to the Pill Tower. As for Yao Chen, he would also be able to enter the Pill Tower to study alchemy due to this.
Yao Chen merely nodded, as this thirst to get rid of his banishment was something he understood very well. The only difference was that Hu Chen didn’t have any life and death enmity with anyone in the Pill tower, while Yao Chen had enmity with the highest level of the core of the clan, the punishment hall. Although it wasn’t necessarily an enmity that would cause a sea of blood to flow, it was not one that could be resolved without the other side’s death. In the end, even if he wanted to return, he couldn’t.
“Excellent.” Hu Chen sighed and became silent. After being with Yao Chen for three years, he had become very familiar with him. He was someone who would definitely do what he promised.
Yao Chen and Feng Xian were currently taking in how majestic Azure Spirit City was. It was bustling with noise and people. Sellers shouted their wares, and in the distance was a medicinal ingredient martketplace…
All of this was a novel experience for the two of them.
But a faint grief appeared in Feng Xian’s eyes when he looked at the auction house. Although life with the demon race hadn’t been bad over these three years, the blood enmity of the Feng family was something he hadn’t forgotten about even for a moment.
Yao Chen patted Feng Xian on the shoulder. He nodded to him, as he had also not forgotten.
Feng Xian smiled joylessly. “Don’t worry brother Chen. I know that it’s still not the right time. The opponent is a Dou Wang.”
“Trust in me, in another two years, killing a couple Dou Wangs will be simple as refining a pill.”
Feng Xian viciously nodded at that. “But brother Chen, I’ve thought about it, and this enmity is something I must personally repay.”
Hu Chen wasn’t interested in their enmities. His goal was very clear-cut, and he didn’t feel as if he and Yao Chen had a deep friendship. They were simply using each other. This was something that he, Yao Chen, and Feng Xian were all very clear on.
Hu Chen guided them to a huge square with a restless crowd. But there was a very strict orderliness. There was a massive army guarding a huge stone platform, and atop that stone platform was a deep black hole that was slowly revolving, emitting a mysterious aura.
“This is a Spatial Wormhole. Using it is the fastest way to get to Sacred Pill City.”
Compared to Dou Formations, Spatial Wormholes could along you to jump even further distances, and they were both steadier and safer.
This was general knowledge that Yao Chen had already seen in books but had never actually met with. The Yao clan actually had their own Spatial Wormholes, but they were never opened and he was never allowed contact with them. In fact, he wasn’t even clear on where exactly they were. All he knew was that they existed within the Shennong Mountain Range.
Waiting in line, they finally arrived in front of the Spatial Wormhole. Hu Chen took out a small boat from his robes and rubbed it a few times. This was Spatial Boat that could be used to sail through the Spatial Wormhole.
The originally small Spatial Boat grew larger in an instant, become several meters long and wide. A faint silver spatial energy shimmered and danced inside it.
“Get on.”
Hu Chen confirmed his identity with the experts guarding the Spatial Wormhole. He used medicinal pills to pay for using the Spatial Wormhole and then told Yao Chen and Feng Xian to get in with a pleased expression.
The inside of the boat was extremely rich and majestic, and anything that they could possibly need could be found inside.
“How is this boat of mine?”
Hu Chen laughed in a very pleased manner to Yao Chen. This Spatial Boat had been extremely difficult to forge. It was a third grade Spatial Boat, and to most commoners it was a lavish consumption of money.
But Yao Chen only indifferently nodded. “It’s a bit small.”
“Excuse me?! Small? This is a third grade Spatial Boat!” Hu Chen immediately exclaimed coldly. “If you can bring out a bigger one, I’ll give you a secret art! A true secret art!”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
“Um… then ok. Don’t go back on your word.”
Yao Chen smiled. His family had just happened to own such a boat. According to his mother, it was something his great-grandfather had left behind. Although such a boat was extremely precious and rare, it could only be used inside a Spatial Wormhole. Outside, it was completely useless, especially in the isolated Yao clan. When he had been extremely little he had even used it as a play thing. When Yao Chen had fled from the clan he had naturally brought along everything, including that boat.
Yao Chen took out a small boat from his Storage Ring. Throwing it into the air… BANG BANG BANG… spiritual light exploded and the small boat quickly drew in the spatial strength around it and swelled!
In just a couple blinks, a huge boat over a hundred meters long appeared in the wormhole.
Hu Chen rubbed his eyes. He silently put away his thirty meter boat and jumped in with Feng Xian into the huge boat Yao Chen had taken out.
The people waiting around the Spatial Wormhole were also all discussing animatedly about it. A seventh grade or higher Spatial Boat! Could he be the young master of one of those supreme powers?
“Kid… you actually have a seventh grade or higher Spatial Boat!”
Such a size had to be at least the seventh grade!
Spatial Boats of the seventh grade and above were things ordinary people would never be able to use. Only those supreme powers could have access to such a thing.
Hu Chen’s gaze when he looked at Yao Chen now held an additional trace of envy. Yao Chen was truly unfathomable to be able to take out a seventh grade Spatial Boat. Moreover, he didn’t even care about revealing it to everyone. Was it really possible he didn’t have a powerful support behind him?
An exile from the Yao clan? Perhaps he was like him, someone who still possessed a supporter behind him despite being exiled.
Under the pull of the spatial strength, the huge boat was slowly drawn into the pitch-black wormhole.
Yao Chen only felt his vision darken and his body flash. He felt himself become weightless, but the feeling of losing himself quickly faded. A pitch-black mysterious spatial channel appeared before him.
This spatial channel’s end could not be seen and was completely pitch-black. Only the spatial walls right beside them emitted an indistinct silver spatial energy. It was this spatial energy that that had pierced through a path in this boundless darkness. Looking around, everything was completely silent. Other than the spatial fluctuations from the center, everything was silent. Not even the slightest air was present. The only thing present was a deathly silence.
At the beginning this kind of deathly silence was actually somewhat of a new experience, but that novelty quickly faded. Following the passing of the practically endless darkness, an extremely solemn aura completely enveloped people’s hearts. Even the desire to converse was suppressed by this complete silence.
It was boring, tasteless, and moreover within the wormhole they could not muster the energy to break out of their mood. Even the desire to discuss alchemy was suppressed. Even time seemed to have been stretched, affecting their mental states.
They passed through the journey completely silently. All three of them were silently guarding their hearts. Other than consuming some food pills, they occasionally trained their Dou Qi. An indistinct silver circle appeared in the distance ahead of them. Strand after strand of spatial energy began to become excited, and like a tide it charged over. Under this energy, the speed of the Spatial Boat gradually decreased.
But despite slowing down, the Spatial Boat’s speed was still extremely fast. In just a short time that circle of silver light began to grow and dazzle their eyes. The silver spatial energy was just like a curtain of stairs, slowly drawing the Spatial Boat towards it.
The majestic Pill City was right behind that silver light curtain!
At this moment, Yao Chen still didn’t know that his legend would start from here!