After emerging from seclusion, the old Heavenly King servant guarding outside the mansion stepped forward and respectfully said, "Master, the Zhoutian Clan has sent someone. They have been waiting quietly for three days, hoping to pay you a visit."
Hearing this, Ye Chen nodded, signaling for the old Heavenly King to let the Zhoutian Clan's expert in. After all, the Zhoutian Clan were the true masters of Zhoutian City. As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake; there was no need to put on airs and offend this local power, the Zhoutian Clan.
Especially since this was the Zhoutian Clan's territory. The fact that they had waited quietly for three days without forcing their way in was enough to show their sincerity.
Ye Chen had always followed the principle of repaying respect with respect, so his favorable impression naturally grew.
The Zhoutian Clan expert who arrived was none other than the Super Great Power who had previously stepped in to stop the various clans' important figures from entering the divine island. Dressed in a moon-white robe, with the appearance of a crane-haired child-faced immortal, his eyebrows and beard snow-white, he cut an immortal-like figure. Standing at the door, he was taken aback upon seeing Ye Chen approaching.
Clearly, he had never imagined that the Alchemy Master capable of refining an eighth-grade treasure pill would be such a young Heaven's Pride. He subconsciously frowned, thinking this Alchemy Master was rather arrogant—he, a Super Great Power of the Zhoutian Clan, had waited three days and personally come to visit, yet the master had only sent a subordinate disciple to receive him. He felt somewhat displeased.
However, being an ancient fossil who had lived for many years, he was deep and reserved. After a slight frown, he said, "Young friends, I have come to visit today. May I ask where the master is?"
Abenue, Mo Haishen, Luo Guyun, and the other nine Supreme Heaven's Pride under Ye Chen's command all wore strange expressions, remaining silent. Ye Chen, however, gave a light smile and cupped his hands. "Senior, you flatter me. This junior dares not claim the title of master."
Hearing this, the Zhoutian Clan's Super Great Power immediately understood: the Alchemy Master who had refined the eighth-grade treasure pill was precisely this young man before him.
Such a stark contrast left this Super Great Power dumbfounded. He murmured, "Young friend, could it be that you are that Alchemy Master?"
Ye Chen smiled faintly. "I dare not claim the title of master!"
Instantly, the Zhoutian Clan Super Great Power drew a sharp breath of cold air, staring at Ye Chen in shock. This young man, by all accounts, was of the same generation as the Heaven's Pride within his own clan. One could clearly sense the unique vitality of the younger generation emanating from him; he was not some old monster disguised as a youth.
Yet he simply could not fathom how a Heaven's Pride of such tender years, no matter how monstrous his talent, could have already reached the level of an eighth-grade Alchemy Master at this age.
One must know that even those Alchemy Masters renowned throughout the Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain had spent who knew how many years to reach that step. The Alchemy Master before him was far too young, to an almost unbelievable degree.
Nevertheless, having seen much of the world, although this matter was quite unbelievable, wasn't it similar to the emergence of the one hundred and eight Ancient God Clans a century ago, which had also been equally hard to believe?
This Zhoutian Clan Super Great Power forced himself to accept this fact, finally letting out a bitter laugh. "Master, you are far too young. So young that I can hardly believe it."
Ye Chen smiled but did not argue further on the matter, appearing very composed.
Such demeanor also made the Zhoutian Clan's Super Great Power believe it a bit more. At the very least, when facing a Super Great Power like himself, even the most outstanding of his own clan's youths held some degree of awe. Yet this Alchemy Master before him always maintained a calmness.
This calmness was not forced but came from within. Facing a Super Great Power like himself, it was as if he were meeting someone of equal standing, showing not the slightest trace of awe; on the contrary, it seemed customary.
What an extraordinary young Heaven's Pride. Even if he weren't an Alchemy Master, such mental fortitude alone was enough to earn his high regard.
Ye Chen cupped his hands with a hint of apology. "My apologies. Due to the previous alchemy refinement, I was somewhat fatigued and rested for a few days before formally emerging. I have kept you waiting, Senior."
The Zhoutian Clan Super Great Power hurriedly said, "Fellow Daoist, please do not humble yourself so. You are an Alchemy Master. As the saying goes, the accomplished are teachers. Although I am much older than you, your mastery in the alchemical path is profound and unfathomable. Between us, we shall address each other as peers. You may call me Zhou Yun."
What a joke! The status of an eighth-grade Alchemy Master far surpassed that of ordinary Great Powers. They could address even a Super Great Power like himself as a peer; how dare he presume to call himself 'Senior'?
After all, these Alchemy Masters were often proud and aloof in temperament. Even though this young Alchemy Master seemed amiable, he dared not act presumptuously, lest he inadvertently offend the other party, which would be most unfortunate.
Even the Zhoutian Clan hoped to befriend such an eighth-grade Alchemy Master.
Ye Chen did not object, understanding the other's apprehension, and readily agreed. "Since that is the case, I shall not stand on ceremony. You may call me Qian. However, Fellow Daoist Zhou Yun, you would not visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. May I ask the purpose of your visit today?"
In the Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain, people either knew his title, Battle Saint King, or his real name, Ye Chen.
The name 'Qian' was known to very few within the Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain.
Zhou Yun silently repeated the name 'Qian' a few times but could not recall any Alchemy Master in the Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain who was so young and went by 'Qian'.
Perhaps he was also a peerless figure from outside the Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain.
After all, in recent years, the arrivals of numerous Emperor Clans, Immortal Clans, and King Clans had all come from outside the Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain. Zhou Yun was used to it and did not dwell on the matter. He chuckled, "Fellow Daoist Qian, I have come this time on behalf of my clan to deliver an invitation, hoping you will attend."
With that, he handed Ye Chen a letter. Opening it, it was a platinum invitation: "Three days from now, our Zhoutian Clan will host the millennium Cosmic Heaven Grand Ceremony, inviting various major clans from the Second Heavenly Realm Ancient Domain to attend. We hope Fellow Daoist Qian can also grace us with your presence."
So it was a grand event hosted by the Zhoutian Clan. Three days later would be the Zhoutian Clan's millennium Cosmic Heaven Grand Ceremony, commemorating the birth date of the Zhoutian Ancestral God.
Although the Zhoutian Ancestral God had fallen during the Dark Blood Era, the Zhoutian Clan members still remembered him fondly, holding the ceremony every thousand years to commemorate this progenitor who had led the Zhoutian Clan to glory.
At that time, the Cosmic Heaven Grand Ceremony would invite important figures from various clans.
Ye Chen, having recently displayed superb alchemical skills, naturally also received an invitation from the Zhoutian Clan.
Moreover, this invitation was crafted from pure Tianhua silver, one of the thirty-six most precious divine materials at the Heavenly King level, presenting a platinum color with flowing Dao charm. Clearly, it was a rather high-level invitation, a mark of high respect for Ye Chen as an Alchemy Master capable of refining eighth-grade pills.
Seeing this, Ye Chen naturally did not refuse. He accepted the invitation with a smile. "With such warm hospitality from Fellow Daoist, it would be ungrateful of me not to accept. Three days from now, I shall personally attend the ceremony."
"Since Fellow Daoist Qian has agreed, then my Zhoutian Clan will warmly welcome your arrival." Zhou Yun laughed heartily, also cupping his hands in return. Then he added, "Moreover, during the Cosmic Heaven Grand Ceremony, there will also be a grand auction, a decade-spanning auction event for the entire Second Heavenly Realm Ancient Domain. There may be some treasures related to alchemy that Fellow Daoist Qian might find interesting. You can take a look then."
"Oh, an auction event?" Ye Chen also showed a flicker of interest, as one of his main purposes in coming to Zhoutian City was precisely for the auction event.
A decade-spanning auction event, and one for the entire Second Heavenly Realm Ancient Domain, was bound to be extraordinary.
After all, Ye Chen had previously acquired some quite useful treasures at several auction events. In this Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain left behind by numerous Emperors, perhaps some particularly extraordinary treasures would flow out for auction. He was indeed interested.
And more importantly, there was the Dragon Soul Grass.
Zhou Yun chuckled, suddenly speaking mysteriously, "Fellow Daoist Qian, have you ever heard of Dragon Soul Grass?"
Upon hearing this name, even though he already knew of it, someone of Ye Chen's composed nature couldn't help but reveal a flash of delight on his face.
Seeing the surprise on Ye Chen's face, Zhou Yun's expression also gained a hint of smugness. Stroking his snow-white long beard, he chuckled, "To be honest with you, Fellow Daoist Qian, at the auction during our Cosmic Heaven Grand Ceremony, Dragon Soul Grass will appear. That is an immortal herb nurtured in the place where a True Dragon fell, extremely precious. Fellow Daoist Ye Chen, as an Alchemy Master, you must be quite interested, I presume."
Ye Chen took a deep breath. He glanced back at Abenue in the distance and saw a flicker of excitement on her enchanting, pretty face.
Becoming a pure-blooded True Dragon had always been Abenue's dream.
She possessed part of the Dragon Source. Although she was a variant Insect Queen Mother, in terms of life level, she had long surpassed that of an Insect Queen Mother, her entire being evolving toward a pure-blooded True Dragon.
Moreover, having absorbed the Emperor bloodline power from the seven high-level young supremes within her, her fused bloodline power was extraordinarily powerful. She planned to rely on herself to reach the level of the strongest young supreme and become a pure-blooded True Dragon.
However, it was unknown how long that would take.
If she could obtain a stalk of Dragon Soul Grass and absorb the True Dragon soul within, it could greatly guide the Dragon Source within her body, leading her to undergo a complete transformation in a short time, with more than half a chance of becoming a pure-blooded True Dragon.
At that time, Abenue would surpass all, becoming a strongest young supreme on the same level as Emperor Sons and Emperor Daughters.
Undoubtedly, this would be an absolute boon for Abenue, and for Ye Chen as well.
Only the strongest young supremes truly had the qualification to transcend everything and prove their way to Emperorhood.
In the blood-stained future, Ye Chen would need the help of such Emperor-level powerhouses to resist together.
Precisely for this reason, whether for Abenue's sake or considering the blood-stained future, Ye Chen wanted to obtain this stalk of Dragon Soul Grass.
"To be honest, I wish to obtain this Dragon Soul Grass. I wonder if you could help me acquire it directly without going through the auction?" Ye Chen stated bluntly.