Dandi City, the Undying Alchemy Emperor

It has been a long time since we last parted ways in the Great Zhou Kingdom.

Chen Chang'an never expected to encounter someone from the Tianji Pavilion in this place—and it seemed they had been waiting specifically for him.

"Why didn't Wang Tianji come himself?"

"Too ashamed to face me?"

The Tianji Pavilion disciple bowed respectfully to Chen Chang'an and replied with a bitter smile, "The Pavilion Master anticipated that you would say something like this, Senior."

"However, this visit was ordered by him. There are some matters he wished to inform you about."

"What matters? Speak."

"As you command, Senior."

"The Pavilion Master asked me to relay several pieces of news. First, Chen Yunxuan has begun traveling through the Central Heaven Domain, and his cultivation has broken through to the second level of the Divine Transformation Realm."

It was no surprise that Chen Yunxuan had come to the Central Heaven Domain—Chen Chang'an had always known the boy would eventually make his way here.

But compared to the original timeline, he had arrived at least a year early, and his progress in strength was astonishingly fast.

Though the effects of the Immortal Spirit Fruit played a role, it was clear that he had been diligently training and pushing himself during this time.

"And the second piece of news?"

"The second concerns you, Senior. The Pavilion Master said that what you seek may be within the Alchemist Alliance."

Hearing this, Chen Chang'an frowned. Did Wang Tianji actually know he was searching for the beads? And had he managed to investigate their whereabouts?

The Alchemist Alliance? That was a broad lead. With so many alchemists and branches, how was he supposed to narrow it down?

"Is there no more specific information?" Chen Chang'an asked, his brow furrowed.

"There is!"

"The Pavilion Master suspects that what you seek is in the possession of the Immortal Alchemy Emperor, Yao Niming."

The Immortal Alchemy Emperor—the only alchemist in the entire Profound Mystic World to have reached the Emperor Realm.

How did it end up in his hands?

"Why does Wang Tianji think it's with him?" Chen Chang'an pressed.

"The Pavilion Master learned that long ago, the Immortal Alchemy Emperor obtained a treasure that he regarded as priceless. Yet despite his immense power, he spent over a thousand years attempting to refine it—without success."

"Rumors say it was a mysterious bead of unknown origin, which is why the Pavilion Master made this conjecture."

Hearing this, Chen Chang'an nodded. If that were the case, then the object in Yao Niming’s possession was likely one of the Embryonic Beads.

After all, aside from Chen Chang'an himself, no one in this world could refine or fuse with the Embryonic Beads. To others, they were nothing more than indestructible, ordinary-looking orbs.

Still, the Immortal Alchemy Emperor was nothing if not persistent—spending a thousand years trying to refine it?

"Good, I understand. Is there anything else?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"No, the Pavilion Master only relayed these two matters."

"Very well. Pass on my thanks to Wang Tianji."

"Of course, Senior. I will deliver your message."

After the Tianji Pavilion disciple left, Chen Chang'an chuckled. So it was in his hands after all.

"If it really is with Yao Niming, this trip might be much easier than expected."

"Young Master… do you know the Immortal Alchemy Emperor?"

"I do."

Chen Chang'an and Yao Niming had indeed crossed paths before—and their acquaintance stretched far back. They hadn’t met during Chen Chang'an’s travels, but rather in the Forbidden Forest.

Yao Niming was a fanatical alchemist. Back then, he had ventured into the Forbidden Forest in search of rare herbs and happened to encounter Chen Chang'an.

Since Chen Chang'an could move freely through the Forbidden Forest, Yao Niming took advantage of his notoriety to gather countless treasures there.

That had been nearly eight thousand years ago.

Later, Chen Chang'an had run into Yao Niming twice more during his travels, but after that, their paths never crossed again.

It wasn’t until much later, when he heard the title "Immortal Alchemy Emperor," that he realized the man had become the only alchemist to ever reach the Emperor Realm.

"If Young Master is acquainted with him, retrieving what you seek should be much simpler."

"But… why is the Immortal Alchemy Emperor’s name so unusual?"

Yao Niming—what kind of parents would give their child such a name?

"Niming—'defying fate.'"

"He was born frail, and it was foretold he wouldn’t live past twenty. So his parents gave him that name."

"But if you say 'Yao Niming' too quickly, it sounds like 'I’ll kill you.'"

"Back then, he was mocked endlessly. Who would dare seek alchemy services from someone named 'I’ll kill you'?"

"His Emperor title, 'Immortal Alchemy Emperor,' comes from the fact that he defied his fate, overcoming the prophecy of an early death."

One had to admit, Yao Niming’s life was the stuff of legends—a tale many loved to recount.

From being doomed to die young to defying the heavens, step by step, until he ascended to the Emperor Realm—such a story was truly unrepeatable.

Even the usually irreverent Da Huang held deep respect for Yao Niming. Thinking back to their first meeting in the Forbidden Forest, the man had only been at the Divine Ability Realm.

To dare enter the Forbidden Forest at that level? He was either incredibly lucky or blessed by fate to have crossed paths with Chen Chang'an. Otherwise, there would have been no "Immortal Alchemy Emperor" in the future.

"Young Master, does that mean our next destination is to seek out the Immortal Alchemy Emperor?" Gu Xian'er asked.

"Indeed. Now that we have a lead, we might as well pay an old friend a visit."

"Let’s go—Alchemy Emperor City!"

The Alchemist Alliance’s headquarters, Alchemy Emperor City, was where the Immortal Alchemy Emperor, Yao Niming, resided.

To alchemists, it was a sacred land. Only the most renowned and accomplished alchemists could live there—those without absolute skill wouldn’t dare show their faces.

The distance between Chen Chang'an’s current location and Alchemy Emperor City was vast. Even after flying for over half a month, they had only covered half the journey.

The prolonged flight left Chen Chang'an feeling restless.

"I have an endless lifespan—why should I rush?"

"Why not take my time and enjoy the journey?"

"No more flying. Let’s go—time for a drink."

Chen Chang'an couldn’t fathom the point of hurrying. The bead wasn’t going anywhere. What difference did a day or two make?

Drinking, feasting, and living freely—that was the life he was meant to lead.

"Heh, I knew you wouldn’t fly all the way to Alchemy Emperor City in one go."

"Can I make a suggestion?"

"No."

"I haven’t even said it yet!"

"I don’t need my toes to guess what you’re thinking."

"I wasn’t going to suggest a brothel!"

"I never said 'brothel.' Why jump to that conclusion? How do you know that’s what I was thinking?"

"I…"

Da Huang shot Chen Chang'an a resentful glare but couldn’t refute him—because that was exactly what it had been thinking.

The last time they’d visited one had been back in the Chaotic Region. By now, it had been far too long.

"If I ever achieve human form, I’m moving into a brothel."

"For a hundred days—no, a hundred years!"

Da Huang swore this vow silently, its desire for transformation growing ever more urgent.

Ah, what a pity. Such a shame.

Da Huang was also feeling frustrated. As a qilin, it indeed possessed the ability to transform, yet it was inexplicably unable to take human form—as if bound by some unbreakable restraint.

"Are you all planning to go watch the spectacle?"

"Of course! Such an event is rare. We might only get this one chance in our lifetime."

"Exactly. I’m going too. Why not go together?"

"Sure, I was thinking the same."

"What were those two just talking about?"

"Wait, you don’t know? Kuang Zhongtang is challenging Zhou Wanpeng—how have you not heard?"

"What? Challenging Zhou Wanpeng? Who is this Kuang Zhongtang? How bold!"

"Kuang Zhongtang is no ordinary figure either—a powerhouse of the Immortal Realm."

"So it’s a duel between two Immortal Realm experts? Definitely worth seeing."

The chatter around them left Chen Chang'an momentarily stunned. Kuang Zhongtang? Could it really be such a coincidence?

They had just mentioned this person not long ago, and now they were actually running into him?

"Damn, why do I feel like I’m being targeted?"

"Da Huang, we bring up Kuang Zhongtang, and he just happens to appear?"

"Is this some kind of setup?" Chen Chang'an sighed.

"How should I know? Maybe it’s fate."

"But this guy’s temper hasn’t changed a bit—still challenging everyone even after reaching the Immortal Realm?"

Da Huang hadn’t expected Kuang Zhongtang to remain such a battle fanatic. All these years, and he still hadn’t kicked the habit.

"Interesting. Running into him before heading to Alchemy Emperor City… maybe it really is fate."

"Come on, let’s go see the show too."