Only I Can Refine This Bead

"Damn it, are you fucking blind? What the hell are you bumping into?"

"You got a death wish or something? In such a hurry to die?"

"Who the hell is this? Got a death wish or what?"

Kuang Zhongtang was a straightforward brute. When Chen Chang'an told him to charge through and clear a path, he did exactly that without a second thought.

His actions naturally pissed off quite a few people, but the moment they sensed the aura radiating from Kuang Zhongtang, they all shut their mouths, only daring to curse him silently in their hearts.

Though a large crowd had gathered outside the Alchemy Emperor Manor, the area near the entrance was completely empty. People wanted to watch the spectacle, but no one dared to offend Yao Niming.

After all, what kind of impression would it give to loiter right outside someone’s doorstep?

Kuang Zhongtang charged ahead without any trouble, only to find Chen Chang'an already standing at the entrance of the Alchemy Emperor Manor.

"Damn it! How… how did you get here before me?"

"Hmm… I can fly."

"Oh shit, I forgot about that! But now that I think about it, why aren’t all these people flying too?"

Only then did Kuang Zhongtang realize that not a single person stood near the Alchemy Emperor Manor’s entrance.

"They don’t dare offend the Alchemy Emperor, so they keep their distance."

"Shit, then… what about me?"

Others might fear offending the Alchemy Emperor, but so did Kuang Zhongtang. This was the Alchemy Emperor—the only one in the entire Tai Xuan Realm, someone no one wanted to cross.

"You? Scared?"

"Of course I am! Why wouldn’t I be?"

"So, are you going in or not?"

"I’m going. If anything happens, you’re the one taking the blame anyway."

When the crowd saw Chen Chang'an about to enter the Alchemy Emperor Manor, they were stunned. Just who was this guy? His audacity was off the charts!

Could he be an alchemist too?

Though shocked, no one made much of a fuss. After all, a young man named Yun Xiao had already walked in earlier—one more wouldn’t make much difference.

Inside the Alchemy Emperor Manor, everyone’s eyes were fixed on the alchemy furnace. Yun Xiao controlled his flames, desperately trying to refine the mysterious orb. But as time passed, disappointment crept onto their faces.

Failure.

Even with Yun Xiao’s dual spiritual flames, the orb remained unrefined.

With a deep sigh, Yun Xiao withdrew his flames. He had tried his best—apparently, he wasn’t the destined one.

"Alchemy Emperor, it seems no one in this world can refine this object."

"Indeed. What do you plan to do with it now?"

"Just toss it away—out of sight, out of mind."

"Are you joking? Such a mysterious artifact—it’d be a waste to discard it. Maybe one day, someone will figure it out."

"That’s true."

Yao Niming listened with a faint smile, but just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly shifted.

The crowd froze. What was happening?

Yao Niming’s face displayed a mix of emotions—shock, surprise, confusion, but most of all, excitement and exhilaration.

Then, for the first time, everyone witnessed a genuine, heartfelt smile from the Alchemy Emperor.

Even Medicine Destiny, who had followed Yao Niming for years, had never seen such pure joy on his master’s face.

What in the world was going on?

"HAHAHAHA!"

"Chen Chang'an, you actually came to my Alchemy Emperor City!"

Yao Niming’s sudden burst of laughter left everyone dumbfounded. Was this really the legendary Undying Alchemy Emperor they knew?

Just who was this Chen Chang'an to provoke such an emotional reaction?

"Who’s Chen Chang'an?"

"No idea. Never heard of him."

"Could he be… an Emperor-level powerhouse?"

"Not sure, but even other Emperors who visited the Alchemy Emperor never got this kind of reception."

"Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating."

Whispers spread as everyone speculated about Chen Chang'an’s identity.

"Master, who is Chen Chang'an?" Medicine Destiny couldn’t help but ask.

"Mind your manners. You will address him as ‘Senior.’"

"My friend. The only true friend I have."

"And right now, he’s standing outside my manor."

His only friend?

To be acknowledged as the Undying Alchemy Emperor’s sole confidant—this person’s background must be extraordinary.

Medicine Destiny was even more shocked that his master even had a friend.

"Then I’ll go greet Senior Chen Chang'an immediately."

"No need. I’ll go myself."

What?!

The Undying Alchemy Emperor, personally going to welcome someone?

Before anyone could react, a voice cut through the air.

"No need. I’m already here."

All eyes turned toward the source—Chen Chang'an and his group.

But when they saw them, confusion spread.

A first-level Divine Ability cultivator, a woman, a seventh-level Undying Realm expert, and… a big yellow dog.

After scanning them, everyone’s gaze settled on Chen Chang'an—his voice matched his appearance.

But a first-level Divine Ability cultivator? The Alchemy Emperor’s only friend?

Thousands of years had passed since they last met. Chen Chang'an looked exactly the same, but Yao Niming had visibly aged.

Even as an Emperor, he chose to appear like an old man—something Chen Chang'an found baffling.

Wouldn’t youth be better? More vitality, more energy. But now…

Wait.

Chen Chang'an frowned. Was that… a faint trace of death aura around Yao Niming?

An Emperor-level powerhouse, in the prime of life, shouldn’t have such a presence.

"What brings you here?" Yao Niming asked curiously.

After all, he knew Chen Chang'an couldn’t travel far and rarely left for long. He usually stayed near the Forbidden Forest—yet now, he had somehow reached Alchemy Emperor City? The distance was staggering.

"For that orb." Chen Chang'an cut straight to the point.

The orb?

Yao Niming hadn’t expected that. Did Chen Chang'an know something about it?

In Yao Niming’s eyes, Chen Chang'an was no ordinary man—mysterious, unfathomably powerful.

Perhaps he really could refine it.

"You can refine this orb?" Yao Niming asked eagerly.

Eagerness?

Not even a hint of doubt—just pure excitement? The Alchemy Emperor had this much faith in him?

The onlookers were stunned. What kind of trust was this, to believe without question that Chen Chang'an could succeed?

Yun Xiao also turned his gaze toward Chen Chang'an, deeply curious about what method the other would use to refine the pearl.

"Of course, there's a way."

"And in the entire Tai Xuan Realm, no one but me can refine this pearl."

"However... once refined, this pearl will vanish and belong to me."

"Won’t you regret it?" Chen Chang'an teased with a smile.

"Why would I? Between the two of us, do we even need to speak of such things?" Yao Niming replied, slightly displeased.

"Hahaha, just joking."

Though so many years had passed, Yao Niming hadn’t changed at all—he still regarded Chen Chang'an as the closest friend of his life.

After all, without Chen Chang'an, there would be no current Undying Alchemy Emperor. He would have died long ago in the Forbidden Forest.

Without hesitation, Yao Niming took out the pearl and handed it directly to Chen Chang'an.

The others also fixed their eyes on Chen Chang'an, eager to see how this pearl—which had left them helpless—would be refined, or if it even could be.

Chen Chang'an took it and immediately recognized it as his own fetal pearl.

This was now the fifth fetal pearl he had obtained, and the process this time had been relatively smooth.

With a mere thought from Chen Chang'an, the fetal pearl seamlessly merged into his body.

The onlookers were stunned. What... what kind of refinement method was this?

It fused directly with his body?

Even Yao Niming was shocked. Could Chen Chang'an merge this object with himself so effortlessly?

Could it be that this thing originally belonged to him?

"Huh? What’s happening?"

"This spiritual energy..."