Hearing this, Ye Chen furrowed his brows. "You're truly arrogant. The Imperial Maiden is the strongest Supreme One, destined to be invincible among her peers. How could you face her alone? It's already quite fortunate you managed to return alive."
He somewhat blamed Will for his arrogance. Facing the Imperial Maiden alone was an extremely perilous endeavor. Although he believed in Will's strength, the Imperial Maiden was still the Imperial Maiden, possessing the most powerful Emperor's bloodline power, invincible among her peers. Even Ye Chen wouldn't dare claim certain victory.
Because such Imperial Sons and Imperial Maidens inherited the most supreme legacy and bloodline power from their forebears, possessing combat prowess far surpassing their peers, fearless of all. Facing such an existence, one shouldn't confront them alone.
Will smiled. "I understand your concern, but don't underestimate me too much. After all, I am also a young generation's supreme, and I had sufficient backup plans to dare make contact. However, the strength of the Dan Emperor Clan's Imperial Maiden truly exceeded my expectations. It can truly be said that if she were a few levels stronger, she could rival a goddess."
Ye Chen nodded. Whether Imperial Sons or Imperial Maidens, they were the strongest young generation's supremes among their peers. Without a gap in cultivation realm, disregarding life and death, a battle between them would basically end in a draw. Even a life-and-death struggle would only depend on whose backup plans were stronger.
After a pause, Will's previously cheerful expression suddenly changed, becoming somewhat grave, which even made Ye Chen feel a bit uncomfortable.
Will raised his eyes, looking at Ye Chen, and spoke with rare seriousness: "Qian Yue, you must be careful during this Alchemy Grand Ceremony. It's not simple."
"Explain in detail?"
Seeing Will like this, Ye Chen's heart also sank. Although the other was usually cheerful and joking, he was never careless when it came to serious matters.
Will said: "These past few days, I've been lurking within the imperial clan's heavily guarded halls, passing through numerous dangerous checkpoints to get close to the Imperial Maiden's secluded cultivation site. However, there are often older generation great powers from the Dan Emperor Clan there. I managed to overhear some very important information. I suspect the ultimate goal of this Alchemy Grand Ceremony is part of a grand scheme by the Dan Emperor Clan. I heard some phrases like 'When the nine cauldrons unite, the emperor's path opens.'"
Hearing this, Ye Chen's expression changed drastically.
Simultaneously, he took out the small alchemy cauldron he had obtained from the Void God Hall. This cauldron was small and exquisite, very special, capable of transmitting some unique information about alchemy. Moreover, it was the key item that guided a generation's alchemy master from mediocrity to the pinnacle of mastery.
Back then, the legacy light sphere left by Master Qing Ye had mentioned in its final moment that this cauldron might point toward the Dan Emperor's legacy.
Initially, Ye Chen didn't fully understand, but now, hearing the information Will had gathered from the Dan Emperor Clan—
When the nine cauldrons unite, the emperor's path opens!
Among this, the so-called nine cauldrons very likely referred to nine cauldrons like this one, or perhaps one of the nine cauldrons was the small alchemy cauldron in his hand.
Furthermore, he recalled the final reward for the Alchemy Grand Ceremony champion: a portion of the Dan Emperor's legacy.
In an instant, it seemed as if many important pieces of information suddenly surfaced. Looking at everything before and after, they all seemed connectable, yet there were still some discrepancies, something always missing.
Ye Chen couldn't help but fall into deep thought. He looked at the small alchemy cauldron, then at Will, repeating this for a long time until Will started feeling uneasy. However, when Will saw the small alchemy cauldron in Ye Chen's hand, he immediately understood and exclaimed: "Could it be that the alchemy cauldron in your hand, Qian Yue, is one of the nine cauldrons?"
Ye Chen nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, it's very likely one of the nine cauldrons."
"'When the nine cauldrons unite, the emperor's path opens.' Does it mean gathering nine alchemy cauldrons, merging them into one, can open a true path to the Emperor's supremacy?" Will said.
"I suspect the main purpose of the Alchemy Grand Ceremony isn't just the once-in-ten-millennium participation of all alchemists from the ancient universe. It's more likely a special grand scheme. If I'm not mistaken, perhaps the Dan Emperor Clan's ultimate goal is to gather the nine alchemy cauldrons," Ye Chen spoke softly, voicing a shocking speculation.
Yes, if not mistaken, it should be so.
Because, just like the small alchemy cauldron in Ye Chen's hand, they weren't in the Dan Emperor Clan's possession. Instead, they were scattered across the universe. One of them was obtained by Master Qing Ye, step by step guiding him onto the path of a pinnacle master, allowing him to achieve fame and success. It was even directly stated that the small alchemy cauldron might point directly to the Dan Emperor's legacy.
This wasn't an unfounded claim; on the contrary, there was a real possibility.
The true purpose of this Alchemy Grand Ceremony wasn't the once-in-ten-millennium alchemy grand event. Instead, it was more likely that the Dan Emperor Clan aimed to gather the nine alchemy cauldrons scattered across the universe, merge them, and carry out some astonishing grand plan.
The fact that the Alchemy Grand Ceremony champion's reward pointed to the Dan Emperor's legacy further indicated one thing: the Dan Emperor Clan was willing to spare no effort to gather the nine cauldrons.
In previous Alchemy Grand Ceremonies, although the champion's reward was extremely generous, a considerable portion of alchemy masters and grandmasters didn't care and wouldn't participate in the ceremony to refine pills. It was impossible to confirm if they possessed one of the nine cauldrons.
But this time's reward was the Dan Emperor's legacy, the greatest temptation no alchemist could refuse. Among them, the nine cauldrons would inevitably reveal themselves. Without the Dan Emperor Clan needing to search, they would autonomously gather at the Alchemy Grand Ceremony, where the nine cauldrons plan could then be executed.
Yes, that's it. This was Ye Chen's speculation.
"Could this be the ultimate goal of the Alchemy Grand Ceremony?" Ye Chen murmured softly to himself. Even he found it somewhat hard to believe. Moreover, he focused on the phrase 'the emperor's path opens' after the nine cauldrons united. What exactly did this 'emperor's path opens' refer to?
Was it a supreme path leading to the Emperor, or did it imply something else, or have another meaning?
Naturally, all of this couldn't be fully known at present. Everything would only be truly revealed when the Alchemy Grand Ceremony arrived.
But regardless, Ye Chen now understood some of the Dan Emperor Clan's latent plans. He increasingly couldn't allow this small alchemy cauldron to be exposed prematurely; otherwise, it would bring immense trouble.
In the meantime, with a few days still remaining, Ye Chen constantly pondered over this small alchemy cauldron. During this period, various pieces of alchemy information continuously emerged. However, in the end, the highest level didn't exceed the sixth rank, but it still significantly improved Ye Chen's comprehension of alchemy.
Finally, he stored away this small alchemy cauldron, completely isolating it with Primordial Chaos Ancient Qi and placing it within the Six-Layered Coffin of Reincarnation. Then, he quietly awaited the start of the Alchemy Grand Ceremony.
Soon, Ye Chen had resided in the Dan Emperor Clan for a full half month. On this day, he opened his eyes, awakening from his secluded cultivation.
Outside the treasure pavilion, beyond Dan Tian City, it was already bustling with noise and excitement.
The gates of Dan Tian City were open. Countless powerhouses from the Alchemy Realm poured into the imperial city from outside. Everywhere was bustling and lively. Whether in the sky or on the ground, figures were everywhere. Even those beings whose true forms were giant demons had to transform, taking human form to appear.
This day was precisely the day of the Alchemy Grand Ceremony.