You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

The Heavenly Secrets Hall!
Surrounding the palace are dozens of exquisite pavilions, training grounds, alchemy rooms, and other structures, nestled against the mountains and beside the water.

A gentle stream formed from liquefied spiritual energy flows around it, with exotic flowers and rare herbs blooming along its banks, emitting a refreshing and invigorating fragrance.

The air was so rich in spiritual energy that it almost condensed into mist, and every breath made one feel refreshed and relaxed.

This place is no longer a simple private space, but a nascent cultivation sect with abundant spiritual energy!

Between the buildings, dozens of figures with varying degrees of strength and power were busily circulating their energy, strengthening their bodies, and comprehending the classic texts!
These are seeds carefully selected by Li Rou, possessing superior character and qualities!

Sensing the fluctuations in space and that familiar, powerful aura, they all stopped cultivating and bowed respectfully to Chen Yang from afar, their eyes filled with reverence and gratitude.

"Master is back?"

A cool, elegant, yet gentle voice sounded beside Chen Yang.

A faint blue light flashed, and Li Rou, dressed in a blue gauze dress, with an ethereal and otherworldly temperament and unparalleled beauty, appeared silently beside him.

She looked at the nascent sect before her, which she had single-handedly planned and nurtured, and saw a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.

Chen Yang nodded, looked around, and spoke with a touch of emotion.

"You've worked hard. In such a short time, you've managed to transform the Sumeru Realm into such a blessed land and grotto-heaven, and even give it the true grandeur of a sect!"
These disciples... all have extremely solid foundations.

"The foundation is of utmost importance."

Those who lack the necessary talent and temperament are not qualified to enter this place.

Li Rou responded calmly, but her gaze had already fallen on the simple gray-white jade box that Chen Yang had taken out from his storage space.

"This is the 'junk' you paid an exorbitant price for?"

Although she was in the Sumeru Realm, she could vaguely perceive the important moments Chen Yang experienced in the outside world through the soul contract.

"That's it. You said you'd pay any price?"

Chen Yang weighed the jade box in his hand; it felt cool and smooth to the touch, and the deathly aura that blocked all detection still lingered heavily.

What exactly is the secret?

Li Rou's delicate, pale fingertips gently brushed across the texture of the box's surface.

Where her fingertips touched, the stone patterns seemed to come alive, emitting a very faint hum.

Her gaze instantly became extremely solemn, even carrying a hint of incredulous amazement.

"The material of this jade box... it's actually made from the essence of azure jade marrow nurtured for ten thousand years! This layer of stone-like death aura on the outside... what a skill! It's actually using supreme divine power to reverse the universe and forcibly condense the Netherworld Qi as a disguise for a natural restriction! The true core... is inside!"

A sudden surge of blue light appeared in her eyes, like a tangible probe piercing the jade box.

"I felt it... an intensity so profound it stirred my very soul..."

"The breath of life's origin! The rhythm of creation's source!"

Li Rou's voice trembled slightly with excitement.

"This is no ordinary medicine!"
What's sealed in this box... is definitely not an ordinary elixir!

Its rank... is absolutely that of an Emperor-grade from the ancient primordial legends!

"Imperial grade?!"

Chen Yang's heart skipped a beat! Even with his composure at this moment, he couldn't help but gasp! A top-grade imperial pill!

That is a legendary treasure that could drive even a celestial emperor mad! It possesses the miraculous power to seize the creation of heaven and earth and reverse life, death, yin and yang!

"That's right! Only the primordial aura of creation of an Emperor-grade pill, powerful enough to break through the constraints of time and space, could be vaguely detected by my primordial spiritual sense, even through this jade marrow essence and the pseudo-dead Nine Netherworld restriction!"

Li Rou's tone was resolute, her eyes gleaming with a burning light of exploration.

"This jade box is its final protective shell."

To see its true face, we must first break the natural dead seal formed by the transformation of the Nine Netherworld Qi!

This restriction is extremely sophisticated, integrated into the essence of the jade marrow to form its own unique structure. A forceful attack would inevitably destroy the jade box and the pills within! We must find a glimmer of hope from within, using skillful force to break it!

Li Rou stared intently at Chen Yang.

"Master cultivates the righteous laws of heaven and earth, which are extremely yang and strong! I am the essence of plants and trees, and my spirituality is most connected to the origin of creation! Let us combine our inner and outer strength, I will focus on life, and you will focus on destruction! Let us forcibly tear open a crack!"

"Okay! What should we do?"

Chen Yang didn't hesitate. Anything that could make Li Rou so excited and certain must be extraordinary!
The two sat on the ground in front of the magnificent and solemn Tianji Hall!

The jade box floated between the two.

Li Rou formed hand seals as if plucking flowers, and her body radiated a rich, pure, and endlessly vibrant azure light, which slowly enveloped the jade box like a warm sun!

Chen Yang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he flexed and extended his ten fingers, drawing upon a vast spiritual power and the inner essence of the primordial chaos! The invisible power gathered and compressed at his fingertips, finally condensing into an invisible and intangible needle-like ray of light that carried the sharp will of creation!
"Life! The wooden wheel turns, the Green Emperor arrives in the east!"

With a soft shout, Li Rou unleashed a burst of azure light, transforming into countless tiny vine phantoms. Ignoring the layer of pseudo-deathly aura, these vines, like the most precise probes, instantly pierced the most microscopic internal structural connections within the core area of ​​the jade box! The azure vines did not destroy with brute force, but rather precisely attached themselves to those deathly nodes, frantically injecting pure life force! Life and death clashed!

The incredibly solid Nine Nether Death Qi restriction instantly trembled and loosened at the point of life and death collision!
In that very instant!
Chen Yang's gaze was like lightning!

"break!"

That divine sense needle, which condensed his immense spiritual power and chaotic true essence, and contained the ultimate meaning of "breaking the law"!

Moved!

Like the first ray of light at the beginning of the universe!

Precise! Ruthless! With speed that surpasses thought!

Along the only tiny crack opened up by Li Rou, a crack created by the conflict between life and death!
At the most crucial point inside the jade box—

Thrust in hard!

There was no earth-shattering explosion!
There was only a very faint popping sound, like glass shattering or a withered leaf being torn apart!

The layer of gray, lifeless stone patterns that covered the surface of the jade box, as immovable as the most solid fortress, silently peeled away and crumbled inch by inch under the interweaving of blue and gold light, just like ice and snow under the sun! Revealing the crystal clear, warm and smooth true chalcedony box inside!

A crack as thin as a hair appeared on the crystal-clear jade box lid!

The instant the jade box lid cracked, an indescribably rich, vibrant emerald-green light burst forth, brimming with boundless life force!

It erupted with a deafening roar!

Like a volcano dormant for billions of years suddenly erupting! Like the primordial origin of the mother planet of life first appearing!

A round sphere, no bigger than a baby's fist, lush and vibrant green, seemingly formed from the convergence of billions of starlight!
call out--!
Like lightning breaking free from an ancient cage! In the blink of an eye, before Chen Yang and Li Rou could react!
It burst out of the jade box in an instant!
fast!
It's faster than divine sense can detect!

Without hesitation, it soared straight up to the ninefold jade-like heavens! Its target was the very top void barrier!
It must escape! Escape this place that its instincts sense as dangerous!
"Trying to run?! Form a battle formation!"

Li Rou gave a clear shout!
hum!
The once quiet void instantly lit up! Layer upon layer of countless shimmering blue light nets, imbued with profound runes, appeared out of thin air! Instantly sealing off all space within a radius of several hundred feet!
This is the protective array that Li Rou quietly set up after taking charge of the Sumeru Realm—the Azure Wood Heavenly Net!
Boom!
The emerald green orb crashed headlong into the incredibly flexible yet resilient azure net! It was as if it had struck an invisible wall of sighs! Light scattered, creating a dull echo! The orb was violently bounced back!

"Leave!"

Chen Yang's figure had already become a blur! His palm, filled with chaotic true essence, fiercely grabbed down at the sphere of light!

The sphere of light seemed to possess a spirit! It drew a bizarre arc in mid-air, defying the laws of physics, narrowly avoiding Chen Yang's capture! Its speed increased instead of decreasing! It clung to the edge of the cyan light net, trying to find a weak point!
"Three zhang to the left!"

It needs to move to the Kun position!

Li Rou's mental transmission instantly exploded in Chen Yang's sea of ​​consciousness!

Chen Yang's figure shifted to the side at an incredible angle in an instant! Cutting off the path of the light sphere!

The sphere of light spun again!

Two powerful auras, one ethereal and controlling the pulse of heaven and earth, the other domineering and fierce, crushing the void, began a thrilling chase and capture in this sect territory!
That ball of light was incredibly agile! It seemed to anticipate every attack! Swift as a ghost! It narrowly evaded Chen Yang's grasp several times!
"Hmph! How dare you be so presumptuous in my realm!"

Li Rou's pretty face was filled with murderous intent, and her hand gestures changed again!
Rumble! The plaza, the mountains, the sky… the entire Sumeru Realm seemed to come alive! Endless, dense spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged wildly as if summoned by an emperor, condensing in the void into an enormous azure hand made of pure energy! With a terrifying pressure that could suppress the four extremes and eight wastelands, it suddenly closed and grabbed at the dodge and weave sphere of light!
—Creation captures the heavens!

This is the power of the world's will! It is coalescing within this Sumeru Realm!

No matter how fast that emerald green orb is, how can it be faster than the power of the world that controls heaven and earth!
scoff!

It was struck by the oppressive force emanating from the edge of that enormous cyan palm!
The emerald green light vibrated violently! Its speed plummeted!

In that very instant!
Chen Yang's figure appeared as if by teleportation to the side front where the light sphere was frozen! His palm, covered with chaotic true essence, suddenly reached out!

Five fingers like iron hoops!
They closed with a roar!

He gripped the struggling, emerald-green orb of light tightly in his palm! Vast chaotic true essence, like countless strong chains, instantly coiled around it, binding it firmly!
The light dissipated.

A chubby, plump little thing, no bigger than a thumb, appeared in Chen Yang's palm!
Its entire body is a vibrant, lush green, as if composed of the purest crystals of life energy, with its chubby little arms and legs clearly visible. On its head are two "hats" that resemble newly sprouted leaves.

At this moment, it stared in terror at Chen Yang and Li Rou, who exuded a powerful aura of oppression, with its large, watery eyes, as green as jade. Its short legs thrashed helplessly in mid-air.

"Waaaaah... Spare me! Spare me, immortal!"

A child's voice, tender, clear, and filled with endless grievance and fear, rang out directly in Chen Yang and Li Rou's minds, like a little baby who had just learned to speak.

"I've cultivated this elixir for 30,000 years! 30,000 years of wind, rain, and dew condensation have only vaguely given me this little bit of true spirit! I was just about to complete the great work and be able to solidify my form and be free! But that damned guy sealed it in a jade box and it's been hidden from the light of day for another 3,000 years!"
"I'm finally free... Waaah... Please don't kill me! I can do so many things! I'll glow! I smell amazing! Am I...am I not pretty enough?"

As it spoke, it shook the two tender leaves on its head, trying to be cute and gain a glimmer of hope.

Her large, clear eyes were filled with tears, as if she were about to cry.

Even though Chen Yang was experienced and decisive, he was somewhat amused and exasperated by this "elixir spirit" who suddenly appeared, whose voice was childish and pitiful, yet who was trying to reason with him.

This is far removed from the ethereal and otherworldly image of elixirs he had imagined!
"A royal-grade pill... it really did develop sentience! And such an interesting sentience at that..." A moment of surprise and amusement flashed in Li Rou's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, her tone remaining cold and scrutinizing.

"A medicine spirit? Hmph! With only a nascent intelligence, you already possess such cunning speed? If we weren't in this realm, you really would have gotten away!"

"Waaah... I won't do it again! Fairy, please spare me!"

The little spirit huddled in Chen Yang's palm, trembling, feeling that Li Rou's gaze was even more terrifying than the man holding her.

"Kill you?"

Chen Yang loosened his grip slightly and gently stroked its soft, tender leaves with his fingers, feeling a warm and cool sensation.

"Why should I kill you? This place is beautiful and has abundant spiritual energy, a thousand times better than the jade box you used to live in. Stay here and serve me; that is your opportunity."

The little spirit blinked its big eyes, seemed to be stunned for a moment, and asked tentatively.

"Just...just leave me here? You don't have to eat me?"

"As long as you behave and obey me, you will have your own benefits in the future."

Chen Yang said.

"no!"

Li Rou's cold voice interrupted with an undeniable force.

"Master! Do not be deceived by it! The spirit of the Emperor-grade pill is no longer an inanimate object! Its spirituality has developed thoughts, desires, and cunning that are no less than that of humans! It also has the ability to communicate with the laws of heaven and earth! At this moment, it is weak and pitiful, which is only a temporary measure! If you do not completely control its original soul consciousness and plant a divine soul imprint on it..."

It may turn on its master at crucial moments, or seek an opportunity to escape. Even though this world is powerful, it may not be able to trap a 'spirit' of its level all the time!
That would be a catastrophe!

Her gaze was sharp as a sword, fixed intently on the little medicinal spirit.

"It must be branded!"

The little spirit was so frightened that its green light dimmed slightly, and it trembled.

"Ugh...have mercy...the brand hurts so much...I don't want it..."

“Branding can save one from the suffering of being burned in the furnace.”

Chen Yang's tone turned cold and hard. Li Rou was right.

Such wondrous treasures of nature, if not absolutely controlled, will surely become a source of future trouble!

He stared at the trembling little thing in his palm.

"Open your mind and accept my soul imprint."

From this day forward, obey my commands and serve me. I, Chen Yang, promise you that as long as you remain loyal and faithful, no one in this world can refine you, and you will enjoy boundless opportunities for creation!

A vast and powerful divine pressure, carrying the aura of the primordial chaos, slowly emanated from between Chen Yang's brows! Like the will of a deity descending! It enveloped the small, emerald-green medicinal spirit.

The little herb spirit's emerald green body trembled violently, its large, jade-like eyes struggling with immense fear and resentment, ultimately settling into a resigned, ashen gray. (End of Chapter)