Ye Chen watched all of this with cold eyes.
"Supreme Elder Zhou Yun!" Elder Cangyun looked toward Zhou Yun, hoping to plead for mercy. Although the fault lay with Zhou Tianyu, Zhou Tianyu was, after all, one of the Zhoutian Clan's outstanding young Heaven's Prides of this generation, a pillar figure who would bear the clan's future. How could his cultivation be abolished?
Zhou Yun let out a light sigh and addressed Ye Chen and the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor: "Fellow Daoist Qian, Fellow Daoist Long, please consider my face and spare him. Do not abolish his cultivation. I will certainly punish him severely with other penalties as a warning."
Zhou Yun had spoken personally, and Ye Chen held some goodwill toward him. He nodded to the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor, signaling to stop at this point.
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor snorted coldly: "Since Little Moon agrees, I won't abolish your cultivation this time. However, I hope the Zhoutian Clan does not let his punishment off lightly."
"Naturally, please rest assured, both of you."
Elder Cangyun also breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Zhou Tianyu, who had similarly relaxed slightly in his heart: "What are you still standing there for? Get out of the Zhoutian Palace immediately and return to the Sin Valley to reflect on your mistakes in seclusion for fifty years."
Sin Valley!?
Zhou Tianyu's expression changed slightly. That was the punishment ground where clan members who committed serious offenses were imprisoned. No clansman wished to enter the Sin Valley.
But he also understood this was the best outcome. Otherwise, if his cultivation were abolished, he would be a mere mortal for life—how could he ever climb to high positions?
"Yes!"
Zhou Tianyu's lips moved, but in the end, he complied and was led away from the Zhoutian Palace by clansmen.
Thus, a farce finally came to an end. However, precisely because of this incident, Ye Chen, who had originally been quietly savoring fine wine and delicacies at the edge of the banquet, maintaining an extremely low profile, suddenly became the focus of attention for the vast majority, the center of everyone's gaze.
Many had earlier wondered why the six Royal Clan Super Prodigies were willing to risk opposing the Zhoutian Clan to protect Ye Chen at all costs. Now they finally understood.
An Alchemy Master—such a figure of extraordinary status—was someone no one wished to offend lightly. All hoped to befriend him, which would be the optimal choice for themselves and even their entire faction.
The six Royal Clan Super Prodigies likely also hoped to win Ye Chen's favor and become his friends through this.
They simply didn't know that the six Royal Clan Super Prodigies were all Ye Chen's followers, so naturally, they had to step forward.
The appearance of an Alchemy Master instantly became the focal point of the entire Zhoutian Grand Ceremony. Although many still clinked glasses and exchanged toasts with others, most were distracted, openly and covertly directing their attention toward him.
Naturally, many hoped to befriend this young Master Qian, seeing numerous benefits in doing so.
Many also recalled that just a few days ago, someone had refined pills in a high-level mansion under the Zhoutian Clan's jurisdiction, with pill light that shook the entire city and pill tribulation lightning that even Great Powers feared.
At the time, they thought it was some world-renowned Alchemy Master who had appeared in Zhoutian City to refine an eighth-grade treasure pill. Now, seeing Ye Chen's appearance and Zhou Yun's tone, it was most likely him.
For a time, numerous important figures from major powers crowded forward, proactively seeking to befriend Ye Chen, if only to become a familiar face.
"Master Qian, I never imagined you were so young yet already a generation's Alchemy Master. Truly, heroes emerge from the young!"
"Indeed, since ancient times, heroes emerge from the young. An Alchemy Master as young as Master Qian is rare in the world. In the future, you will surely ascend to the realm of Grandmaster, and even have hope of touching the legendary Dan God realm."
"Compared to Master Qian, the Heaven's Prides and prodigies of our various major powers are merely mediocre."
To befriend an Alchemy Master like Ye Chen, many important figures from major powers actively engaged in conversation, their words filled with intentions of goodwill, bordering somewhat on flattery. Yet not one of these important figures blushed; on the contrary, they found it perfectly natural.
And as one of them said, compared to an Alchemy Master like Ye Chen, the Heaven's Prides and prodigies of their various major powers were indeed mediocre, utterly incomparable.
Because Ye Chen was too dazzling. At such a tender age, he had already stepped into the realm of Alchemy Master. It was hard to imagine that if he continued growing like this, he might very well step into the tenth-level Dan God realm in the future, becoming a generation's Dan God renowned throughout the ages.
At that point, forget the small Ten Heavens Ancient Domain; even looking across the vast and boundless Chaos Sea, he would be a peerless figure standing at the very pinnacle of the pyramid.
Naturally, important figures from imperial clans and immortal clans also directed their attention, curious about the identity of this so-called Master Qian, as they had never heard the name 'Qian' before.
Moreover, an Alchemy Master so young would be counted on one hand even in the alchemy-shaking Alchemy Emperor Clan, yet there was no similar figure there. How could they not recognize him?
Where did this mysterious Master Qian, this peerless talent capable of reaching this step, emerge from?
Many were filled with curiosity.
At the same time, important figures from imperial clans and immortal clans appeared, led by a Super Great Power, who proactively stepped forward and cupped his fists toward Ye Chen: "This old man is Cang Chen. Greetings, Master Qian."
Hearing this, many important figures looked at this Cang Chen with reverence, for he was a Supreme Elder of the Cang Di Clan, holding a high status with profound and unfathomable cultivation. He had stood in the Super Great Power realm for many years and was renowned throughout the Ten Heavens Ancient Domain.
"So it's Elder Cang Chen." Ye Chen naturally had never heard of him but returned the courtesy politely.
Cang Chen said, "Master Qian, though young, is peerlessly brilliant. Your alchemy skills are unmatched among your generation, with extraordinary attainments. This old man feels ashamed of his own inferiority, yet I am quite curious. May I ask, Master, who is your teacher?"
Although the question from this imperial clan Super Great Power felt somewhat abrupt, others also looked at Ye Chen curiously, wanting to know his true identity.
Ye Chen smiled faintly: "My teacher has always been a carefree wanderer, disliking to walk the mortal world and unwilling to be disturbed by worldly affairs again. His name cannot be mentioned. Please forgive me."
Hearing this, others were slightly disappointed, clearly extremely curious about the name of this mysterious Master Qian's teacher.
However, if they knew that Ye Chen had received the Alchemy Emperor's alchemy inheritance, and the Alchemy Emperor could be considered his alchemy teacher, they would likely be shocked speechless.
Naturally, Ye Chen would not reveal this.
Cang Chen frowned slightly, unsatisfied with the answer, but unwilling to easily offend an Alchemy Master. He smiled and said, "Since Master Qian has his teacher's orders, naturally there is no need to answer. Should Master Qian have time someday, please visit the Cang Di Clan as a guest. My Cang Di Clan will certainly treat you with the utmost hospitality!"
"With Elder Cang Chen's invitation, if I have time, I will certainly visit!" Ye Chen also responded with a smile.
Simultaneously, other major powers also spoke up one after another, inviting Ye Chen to visit, promising to receive him with the highest honors should he come.
Ye Chen also smiled and responded that he would certainly visit if he had time.