The indistinct yet thunderous voice was deafening, yet so clear that everyone could hear it was the two words: "Alchemy Grand Ceremony."
Just hearing these two words could make one's ears ring and blood boil with excitement.
Although Ye Chen didn't fully understand, he knew this must be a grand spectacle that attracted the attention of the entire world. Otherwise, Nine Phoenix Great Ability and the others wouldn't have offered it as compensation for his losses.
"Alchemy Grand Ceremony?" Ye Chen looked toward the several Guardian Great Abilities.
"That's right, the Alchemy Grand Ceremony—it's a grand alchemy competition," Nine Phoenix Great Ability spoke up, his expression grave as he explained some reasons. "It can be said to be a world-renowned alchemy contest. Whether on the Ultimate Ancient Path or in the various domains deep within the starry sky, or even looking across the entire Ancient Universe, it's a major competition held once every ten thousand years."
"This is the most flourishing alchemy competition in the entire Ancient Universe. At that time, countless alchemy geniuses will gather from all over, and even some reclusive master-level figures of the alchemy path will appear. It will be a magnificent spectacle!"
"Even the lofty yet reclusive Ancient Monarchs of this Ancient Universe will be stirred and go to watch. You can imagine its scale."
The Alchemy Grand Ceremony was a grand alchemy event held once every ten thousand years in the Ancient Universe where the Ultimate Ancient Path was located. Its prosperity and popularity were unprecedented, gathering countless alchemy masters from across the entire Ancient Universe, among whom were many grandmaster alchemists.
Especially this session, which was chosen to be held during the great era when the Ultimate Ancient Path opened, its significance was even more unprecedented. Even alchemy geniuses from various Ancient Universes would come to participate, making it much more intense than any previous session.
Among them, the person who could win the championship in the Alchemy Grand Ceremony would receive unparalleled rich rewards.
Rumors said the final reward concerned the legendary Alchemy Emperor's Immortal Scripture—the scripture of the Emperor who attained the Dao through alchemy—and might even include part of the Alchemy Emperor's alchemy inheritance.
It was precisely because of this that this session of the Alchemy Grand Ceremony was unprecedentedly prosperous and bustling, gathering outstanding talents from all sides, with countless alchemy masters rushing from all corners of the starry sky.
Moreover, pills, whether for cultivation or treating various Dao injuries, provided immense, ineffable help. This led to alchemy masters generally holding high status, often invited by many top forces to become honored guests, receiving all kinds of generous treatment.
Even if some alchemy masters were unwilling to become honored guests, they were still befriended by various major powers when traveling the world, who were reluctant to offend them.
After all, for many experts, it was common to encounter troubles on the cultivation path or accidentally suffer Dao injuries. More serious problems could even lead to inner demons, deviation, or sitting in meditation until death.
And some high-level pills could often solve these problems very well.
Furthermore, these alchemy masters often knew many supreme experts. Once offended, they could call upon friends in a frenzy, likely bringing about the most terrifying retaliation.
It must be known that some supreme grandmaster alchemists held status so high it was comparable to Ancient Monarchs. They befriended Great Powers across the heavens and even formed good relations with Ancient Monarchs. When calling upon friends, few in the entire Ancient Universe were willing to offend them.
"Alchemy Grand Ceremony..."
Looking at the illusory alchemy cauldron, Ye Chen's expression carried a hint of sighing emotion.
Actually, regarding the path of alchemy, he had some grasp of it. Wasn't the very beginning of his rebirth and awakening in this life precisely using pills to humiliate Yang Yi and the others?
However, back then, his alchemy knowledge, which was deemed astonishingly divine in the Tian Du Continent, was actually just some superficial knowledge of the vast alchemy path.
Because the pill inheritance in the Sealed Realm Universe was basically lost with the great destruction of the Mythological Era. Most of the inheritance wasn't passed down. What circulated in the Myriad Domains today was less than one or two-tenths of the alchemy path from the Mythological Era. Ye Chen's acquired alchemy path was even more so.
Over so many years, he had focused on cultivating the Dao and basically hadn't paid much attention to the alchemy path. Therefore, compared to his cultivation realm, his insights into alchemy were far inferior.
He never expected it to appear before him again now, making him sigh with some emotion.
"Little friend, what do you think? Would you like to try participating?" Nine Phoenix Great Ability chuckled lightly. "Moreover, I observe that your alchemy path is also outstanding. You could participate. Even if you can't obtain the final reward, if you successfully qualify, you can venture into the Alchemy Realm and obtain some extremely rare opportunities. I hear the Alchemy Realm isn't lacking in Medicine Spirits."
Naturally, this was said because he saw Ye Chen kill several Great Powers of the Soul-Forbidden Hall and refine them into Great Power Pills.
Although those Great Power Pills were somewhat crude, they weren't something ordinary people could refine; it required a certain level of high alchemy skill to produce them.
"Oh?" Ye Chen uttered in surprise. If the Alchemy Realm contained Medicine Spirits, it might be worth trying to participate.
After all, the rarity of Medicine Spirits surpassed even ten-thousand-year medicinal treasures. And didn't he have Medicine Spirits obtained from the many treasure halls of the Ancient Monarch in the second trial?
"Of course, the so-called Medicine Spirits might not be worth much in the eyes of a little friend with your current perspective. But the final reward would probably make even you covetous. That includes part of the Alchemy Emperor's alchemy inheritance. Regarding this, our Ultimate Ancient Path can confirm it's real, with absolutely no falsehood," Nine Phoenix Great Ability dropped a bombshell.
Even someone with Ye Chen's calm temperament couldn't help but feel various waves stirring in his heart upon hearing this.
Although he had obtained some inheritances of Emperor-Supreme Ones, wasn't the inheritance of the Battle Saint lineage one? He even obtained the Battle Saint Ancestor's forbidden divine ability. Such inheritance could be called one of the most powerful in the world. Therefore, while the inheritance of an Emperor-Supreme One held great attraction for Ye Chen, it wasn't as immense as one might imagine.
But who was the Alchemy Emperor?
The Alchemy Emperor, a supreme existence who attained the Dao and became an Emperor through his astonishing, earth-shaking alchemy path. His alchemy art was terrifyingly heaven-defying, capable of refining the legendary tenth-rank Emperor Pills.
And more importantly, he could incinerate an Ancient Universe, transform a great universe into a giant cauldron, burn the heavens, and refine heaven-defying Emperor Pills, including the ultimate Emperor Pills that could bring Emperor-Supreme Ones back from death.
It could be said this was the most terrifying aspect.
Once an Emperor died, who could save them?
Not even the strongest Emperors like the Battle Saint Ancestor, the Great Saint Sovereign, or the Heavenly Emperor could. Different professions excel in different areas. They were among the most powerful Emperors, but that didn't mean they could bring the dead back to life, act against heaven, or revive an Emperor.
But the ultimate Emperor Pills refined by the Alchemy Emperor could.
After all, this was the existence with the highest alchemy skill in the entire Chaos Sea, from ancient times to the present. No one could surpass him in this field.
There were even rumors that the alchemy paths of the various Ancient Universes across the Chaos Sea all spread from the hands of the Alchemy Emperor.
"The Alchemy Emperor's inheritance... Is this really true?!"
Ye Chen widened his eyes, somewhat shocked.
"Naturally, absolutely no falsehood. We can guarantee it."
Seeing the Battle Saint King's shocked expression, the several Guardian Great Abilities couldn't help but smile slightly. However, when they first heard this news, they were even more shocked than the Battle Saint King.
After all, concerning the Alchemy Emperor's Supreme inheritance, what an immense gesture this was.
But Ye Chen soon revealed a bitter smile. "Although that's what you say, regarding the Alchemy Emperor's inheritance, my meager alchemy skills shouldn't even think of competing."
Although his cultivation talent could be called a peerless monster rare throughout the ages, his alchemy path was far inferior in comparison, completely incomparable. How could he contend for this Alchemy Emperor inheritance?
He shook his head and said, "Several Seniors, I'll continue venturing on the Ultimate Ancient Path. Regarding the Alchemy Grand Ceremony, you should invite other experts to participate with this invitation."
He refused. The Alchemy Emperor's inheritance seemed like an extremely high temptation, but without the ability, wouldn't participating just be asking for humiliation?
Hearing this, Nine Phoenix Great Ability and the other Guardian Great Abilities all changed expressions. Their initial purpose was to have Ye Chen go directly to the thirty-first trial gate, but now the other party actually resisted such a huge temptation and didn't agree, which made them somewhat anxious.
"Battle Saint King, this is the Alchemy Emperor's inheritance. If you obtain it, you could become heaven-defying in the future, even reaching the Alchemy Emperor's height. Perhaps you could refine ultimate Emperor Pills to help yourself, completely perfect the Chaos Great Dao, and transcend above eternity," Nine Phoenix Great Ability said urgently, with the other Guardian Great Abilities chiming in.
But Ye Chen shook his head. "I'm sorry. Regarding the alchemy path, this junior still has some self-awareness. It's difficult to enter the hall, and I don't want to make a fool of myself. I'd better honestly venture on the Ultimate Ancient Path."
"As for going to the thirty-first trial gate, forget it. This junior has decided to start from the nineteenth trial gate and continue venturing."
"This..."
The group of Guardian Great Abilities felt somewhat troubled. If it were an ordinary trial-taker on the Ancient Path, even a young Supreme One would find it hard to refuse their decision. But the one before them was the Chaos young Supreme One, the Battle Saint King, a future overlord of the Ancient Path full of potential. They dared not force him.
Moreover, behind the Battle Saint King stood a peerless overlord like the Goddess and also the Moon Palace, a massive force dominating the Ultimate Ancient Path.
But they couldn't just let the Battle Saint King continue venturing on the Ultimate Ancient Path from the nineteenth trial gate. However, the other party's refusal made them all very troubled.
"If there's nothing else, this junior will take his leave." Ye Chen handed the Alchemy Grand Ceremony invitation back and turned to leave. Yet, at this moment, the corner of his mouth revealed a mysterious smile.
"One, two, three, four, five—"
Ye Chen silently counted in his heart, walking out step by step, neither hurried nor slow.
When he took the thirteenth step, a voice suddenly rang out from behind—
"Little friend, wait!"
The speaker was the Guardian Great Ability of the eighteenth trial gate, not inferior to Nine Phoenix Great Ability, a usually extremely majestic Great Ability. Yet now, he spoke somewhat helplessly: "Little friend, what would it take for you to agree?"
Ye Chen smiled slightly. "Senior, this junior has already said that with my meager alchemy skills, participating in such an Alchemy Grand Ceremony competition would be completely asking for humiliation. How do you expect this junior to agree?"
"What would make you willing to agree?"
"Any demand I propose can be agreed to?"
"As long as it's not excessive, we will consider it appropriately!" the Great Abilities said.
"I hope to enter the Void Divine Hall on the Ancient Path to peruse the various scriptures left by past generations of alchemy masters."
Ye Chen spoke lightly, yet his words made the several Guardian Great Abilities' hearts tremble.
The Void Divine Hall—a supreme sacred land on the Ultimate Ancient Path, very mysterious, yet a place all trial-takers on the Ancient Path yearned for.
Because it was a treasure vault containing countless Great Dao scriptures, precious Dao scriptures, priceless secret arts, various Dao techniques like alchemy, artifact refining, formation arrays, etc.—it could be said to have everything.
Moreover, the Void Divine Hall was a sacred land of the Ultimate Ancient Path. To be included in the Void Divine Hall, scriptures had to be at least at the Heavenly King level and of great value. Otherwise, even scriptures written by young Supreme Ones at the Heavenly King level would find it hard to be included, which showed its standard.
And alchemy path scriptures qualified to be included in the Void Divine Hall naturally had to be at least at the master level. Among them were also various inheritances of some grandmaster alchemists.
If he could enter and find these alchemy scriptures, for Ye Chen, his alchemy path attainment could advance by leaps and bounds.
"No!"
As expected, someone directly refused. It was Nine Phoenix Great Ability. He said, "Little friend, the Ancient Path's Void Divine Hall is our Ultimate Ancient Path's supreme sacred land. Outsiders cannot casually enter the Void Divine Hall."
This result was within expectations. Ye Chen just smiled and said, "Since it troubles you Seniors, you can pretend you didn't hear this junior's words just now. But please also don't treat this junior unfairly."
Clearly, if they didn't agree to let Ye Chen enter the Void Divine Hall, Ye Chen wouldn't agree to go to the thirty-first trial gate. He would set off to sweep through the nineteenth trial gate, forcefully plundering the cultivation resources of each trial gate.
"Little friend, other than this condition, anything else is negotiable," Nine Phoenix Great Ability said urgently.
"Help me kill Taiyi!" Ye Chen said.
"..."
The group of Guardian Great Abilities were speechless. Not to mention that such an Ultimate Ancient Path overlord's peerless cultivation was sufficient to face an Ancient Monarch and leave safely—they simply couldn't kill him. Even if they had the ability, they couldn't kill such an Ancient Path overlord full of Emperor potential because of one condition from Ye Chen.
Ye Chen said with a smile, "Since Seniors cannot accomplish it, please don't continue troubling this junior. Let this junior continue challenging the trial gates."
It's you who are troubling us!
Nine Phoenix Great Ability and the others inwardly complained but also felt somewhat helpless. Facing this Battle Saint King, they really couldn't hit or scold him, and whether they could even win in a fight was a question.
Finally, after Nine Phoenix Great Ability and the several Guardian Great Abilities exchanged divine sense transmissions, they gritted their teeth and made a difficult decision. "Little friend, we can let you enter the Void Divine Hall, but only for one month. You absolutely cannot stay longer. Are you willing?"
"Good!"
Without hesitation, Ye Chen directly agreed. Since he could enter, what else was there to consider?