Chapter 424: Chapter 424

The heavenly tribulation ended. The dark clouds slowly dissipated, and countless purple rays of light cascaded from the heavens, forming a Nine Heavens’ Canopy that dyed the world purple.

Powerful streams of the Power of Laws pierced the sky above the Imperial Capital, spanning the ages.

Above the Imperial Physician’s Courtyard, the golden phantom of a Pill Furnace appeared, baked by world-consuming flames. Nine Golden Cores floated within it.

The fragrance of elixirs permeated the world, and golden lotuses descended from the sky.

All these signs heralded the resurrection of an extraordinary being.

In the Void manifested by the Soul-Protecting Heavenly Jade, Chu Renjie slowly stood up. He had the appearance of a middle-aged man with bright, piercing eyes. He wore a magnificent golden robe embroidered with a golden tripod and celestial fire, symbolizing his identity as an Alchemist.

"He’s resurrected! He’s really resurrected!"

Chu Changfei was ecstatic. He scrambled towards Chu Renjie, knelt, and clung to his thigh, wailing, "Ancestor, I finally resurrected you!"

"What’s with all the wailing? You’re a disgrace!" Chu Renjie, his face full of disgust, kicked Chu Changfei away. His clothes, freshly condensed from Spiritual Energy, were dirtied again. Read full story at noᴠelfire.net

Such a grown man, still crying like a baby!

"I’m just happy!" Chu Changfei trotted back, his face wreathed in smiles. No one knew that the status and cultivation he possessed today were entirely due to Chu Renjie’s nurturing.

From a young age, he had shown astonishing talent for alchemy. However, his meridians were congenitally blocked, preventing him from cultivating.

The entire Chu Clan had given up on him, even considering expelling him from the family and demoting him to an outer disciple of the Elixir Pavilion.

At that critical moment, Chu Renjie, citing their shared blood and the imperative to support kin through life and death, kept him within the family. He personally taught Chu Changfei cultivation and the art of refining elixirs.

However, unblocking his meridians required a Saint-grade elixir.

When Chu Changfei turned eighteen, Chu Renjie risked his life to refine a Saint Pill, which successfully helped him unblock his meridians...

It was no exaggeration to say that without Chu Renjie, the Chu Changfei of today would not exist. That was why, after Chu Renjie’s demise, Chu Changfei had disregarded all objections from the Elixir Pavilion, spending vast resources each year solely to preserve Chu Renjie’s soul from dissipating.

In stark contrast to Chu Changfei’s jubilation, most people present were stunned speechless, unable to recover for a long time.

The method of resurrection... it’s real! After a moment, Soul Annihilation swallowed hard, the shock still lingering in his eyes.

Originally, he had come merely to watch the spectacle. As the most powerful faction on the continent, the Eternal Temple had inherited most of the martial arts and Immortal Laws from ancient times, yet they had never heard of any method of resurrection.

He didn’t believe that the insignificant Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court could possess such a method!

But now it seemed the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court truly possessed it, and it wasn’t an inheritance from ancient times, but a path of its own creation.

This method of resurrection... I must obtain it!

Soul Annihilation glanced at Huatuo and the other two physicians, a flicker of intense desire in his eyes, then turned and departed.

Because he knew full well that the Pill Saint’s death was directly related to the Eternal Temple!

"Someone from the Eternal Temple?" Chu Renjie also noticed the departing Soul Annihilation. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes, but he refrained from acting. Instead, he walked towards Qin Wudao and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Emperor Qin, for your assistance. And thanks to the three Imperial Physicians for their miraculous skills that have allowed me to live once more!"

"This life-saving grace is beyond words. If there’s anything you need in the future, just ask!"

From his tone, it was clear that Chu Renjie was a forthright man, possessing a strong sense of honor.

"Haha, since Pill Saint Chu has said so, I do indeed have a favor to ask!" Qin Wudao knew that when dealing with someone like Chu Renjie, being direct and honest was far more effective than trying to be clever.

As expected, Chu Renjie did not take offense. "Speak freely!" he said magnanimously.

"Pill Saint, I desire the Soul-Protecting Heavenly Jade," Qin Wudao said, getting straight to the point. "But please rest assured, I will not take it for nothing. I can offer a pre-heavenly..."

For the sake of Kun Daoist and the Four Incompatible, he had to obtain the Soul-Protecting Heavenly Jade, no matter the cost—even if it meant parting with a Xiantian Spirit Treasure.

"Oh, you just want a worthless stone! If Your Majesty wants it, just take it!" Chu Renjie waved his hand, interrupting Qin Wudao, and spoke with an air of indifference, as if he were unaware of the Soul-Protecting Heavenly Jade’s significance.

But as the Pill Saint, could he possibly not know the importance of the Soul-Protecting Heavenly Jade? His action could be seen as repaying the life-saving grace he had received, or perhaps as an attempt to foster good relations with the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court. Of course, his straightforward nature also played a significant part.

"Thank you!" Qin Wudao looked deeply at Chu Renjie and, without further ceremony, stored the Soul-Protecting Heavenly Jade within the Kunlun Bell.

Inside the Kunlun Bell, the Four Incompatible saw the massive Soul-Protecting Heavenly Jade and danced with excitement, his eyes shining brightly. Having witnessed Chu Renjie’s resurrection, he too felt a burning desire to be resurrected!

"Yes! There’s hope for resurrection. Once I’m resurrected, I can personally avenge Master!" Kun Daoist was more composed. Beyond his initial surprise, his thoughts were consumed by vengeance. Upon realizing he could be resurrected, his first thought was revenge!

Hearing the word "revenge," the Four Incompatible also calmed down and nodded gravely.

"We will assist the Young Master and avenge our Master together!"

A dense Evil Qi filled the Kunlun Bell, tinting everything crimson. This was killing intent from ancient times, an unforgettable, deeply ingrained hatred!

Qin Wudao remained unaware of what was happening inside the Kunlun Bell. After securing the Soul-Protecting Heavenly Jade, he said to Chu Renjie, "I have prepared fine wine. Would you be interested in sharing a drink?"

In any world, the custom of hosting banquets with wine and sharing sentiments over it exists; the Primeval Continent was no exception.

Armies were sent off to war with wine!

For comrades who fell in battle, wine was offered to the heavens!

Victorious, battle-hardened armies were welcomed back with wine!

Upon first meeting, a glass of fine wine could forge a lifelong friendship...

"Of course, I’m interested! Come to think of it, it’s been tens of millions of years since I last had a drink!" Chu Renjie’s eyes lit up, and he licked his lips. He too was a lover of wine. Every time he finished refining elixirs, he would drink heartily, losing himself in joyful intoxication for the better part of a day.

"Please!" Qin Wudao and Chu Renjie walked side by side out of the Imperial Physician’s Courtyard.

Members of the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court and the Elixir Pavilion followed closely, leaving the representatives from the other factions staring at each other in dismay.

Bo Zhong was the first to break the oppressive silence. "Why don’t we... also go for a drink?" he ventured. "We could discuss the method of resurrection while we’re at it."

The others hesitated for a moment, then all nodded. After learning that the method of resurrection was a cultivation technique, they abandoned the idea of seizing it by force. Besides, even if they managed to capture Huatuo and the other two physicians, it would be useless if they refused to cooperate.

That day, two banquets were held, each with a distinctly different atmosphere.

Inside the imperial palace, songs and dances celebrated peace and prosperity. Members of the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court and the Elixir Pavilion toasted each other. It was a lively scene, devoid of any scheming, purely an occasion to enjoy the taste of fine wine.

Meanwhile, in another part of the Imperial Capital, the major factions gathered to discuss how to obtain the method of resurrection. With their minds preoccupied, even the priceless, fine wine tasted bitter to them.