Upon stepping into the grand hall, Mu Yan felt as though he had entered an entirely different world—vast and boundless, like a small universe sealed within.
He stood in awe, gazing around in disbelief. The hall stretched endlessly in all directions. Dragons and phoenixes were intricately carved into the massive columns, while strange and majestic beasts sat perched above, so lifelike they seemed poised to leap into motion at any moment.
Though he had never set foot in a true Holy Land before, Mu Yan was certain—even those renowned sanctuaries across the Desolate Immortal Realm paled in comparison to Kunlun's main hall.
Here, he felt as insignificant as a speck of dust.
His master's power was utterly beyond imagination—to create such an architectural marvel with a wave of the hand was nothing short of divine.
Ye Chen sat upon the central throne, overlooking the hall like a celestial emperor surveying the mortal world. His mere presence radiated an invisible might, so overwhelming that Mu Yan struggled to breathe beneath its weight.
It wasn't intentional; it was the natural majesty exuded by one who had ascended to the rank of Immortal Emperor.
"Mu Yan," Ye Chen said solemnly, "as the first disciple of my sect, it is only fitting I bestow upon you a gift."
With a sweep of his sleeve, a scripture wreathed in blazing flames floated before Mu Yan.
Just the sight of those flames made his heart race with terror—he could sense that even a single ember could incinerate mountains and boil seas.
"This technique complements your physique perfectly. Take it and cultivate well."
"Yes, Master!"
Mu Yan received the scripture with trembling hands, fearful the fire would devour him whole—but as he touched it, the flames gently dispersed.
He couldn't discern the level of the cultivation method, but if it came from his master, it was surely unparalleled.
"You possess a supreme fire spiritual root—an excellent talent. But that alone is not enough. I intend to push your potential to its very limit."
As Ye Chen spoke, he placed a hand gently atop Mu Yan's head.
In that instant, Mu Yan lost consciousness.
All around them, the laws of heaven and earth gathered in Ye Chen's palm and poured into Mu Yan's body like a torrential river, washing over his fire root.
Flames surged through Mu Yan's form, brilliant and multicolored, each hue radiating an awe-inspiring heat—yet none of them harmed him.
Moments later, his supreme fire root underwent a miraculous transformation—it evolved into the Sacred Flame Physique.
If the former was considered Immortal-grade, with the potential to reach at least the True Immortal Realm, then the latter was Emperor-grade—capable of ascending all the way to the Immortal Emperor realm.
The difference in potential was worlds apart.
Mu Yan felt as though his very being had become an endless sea of divine fire, seamlessly fused with all the laws of flame in existence.
When he opened his eyes again, the hall was empty. Ye Chen had already departed.
His master's voice echoed beside his ears: "Return and cultivate well. Strive to lead Kunlun Holy Land to its rightful glory."
Mu Yan was deeply moved. Clenching his fists, he shouted with resolve, "I shall honor Master's teachings—I will never betray your expectations!"
As Kunlun's first disciple, he was now the face of the entire sect.
After Mu Yan's departure, Ye Chen brought out the five True Immortal Summoning Cards he had received.
"Five True Immortals? A bit underwhelming… but with how few people we have, they're better than nothing."
Still somewhat dissatisfied, Ye Chen activated the cards, summoning all five immortals to appear before him.
Had other Holy Lands known he dared scoff at True Immortals, they would have fainted from outrage.
Cultivation Realm Hierarchy:
Body Tempering → Qi Refinement → Foundation Establishment → Golden Core → Nascent Soul → Soul Transformation → Void Refinement → Integration → Great Ascension → Tribulation Crossing → True Immortal → Earth Immortal → Heavenly Immortal → Profound Immortal → Immortal Lord → Immortal King → Immortal Emperor.
For millions of years, Immortal Emperors had seemingly vanished.
Profound Immortals, Immortal Lords, and Immortal Kings largely kept to secluded cultivation, striving for transcendence.
Thus, among the known elite, the most active were True, Earth, and Heavenly Immortals.
Even the lords of established Holy Lands were typically no stronger than Heavenly Immortals.
So to possess five loyal True Immortals at once—how could Ye Chen possibly not be content?
This was an overwhelming force by any standard.
He then transferred the Ten-Thousand-Year Enlightenment Tea Tree to the rear mountains, where it instantly took root.
Now that the grand hall was established, the once barren hill had transformed into a vast palace complex. Even the laws of this region had begun to shift.
The Enlightenment Tea Tree stood ten zhang tall, its thick canopy brimming with leaves inscribed with natural Daoist patterns, each one radiating an aura that induced insight.
"Fuse the Primordial Chaos Physique."
Ye Chen issued the command.
The Primordial Chaos Physique—the first physique born from the dawn of creation—was the origin of all things, the embodiment of beginning itself.
This physique required no cultivation technique; it alone was the ultimate, perfectly attuned to all Daoist laws.
Ye Chen's body began an astonishing metamorphosis, resonating with the primal forces of reality—not just within the Desolate Immortal Realm, but across countless other realms.
In the cosmic void beyond, rivers of radiant law condensed into torrents of multicolored brilliance, cascading endlessly through space.
From within the Desolate Immortal Realm, one could look up and witness those dazzling flows—each pulse stirring awe in the soul.
All across the myriad worlds, countless cultivators of the highest level awakened in shock.
Laws of the Great Dao had manifested across the universe?
Such a phenomenon had never occurred in recorded history.
Immortal Emperors, long dormant, stirred in distant corners of the cosmos.
"What's going on? A celestial phenomenon of this scale cannot be limited to a single realm!"
"Did someone ascend to the Emperor Realm? No… when I became an Emperor, the commotion was a mere fraction of this!"
"Could this be the prelude to a calamity spanning the ages?"
"These laws are so vivid—if I can grasp even a sliver, my power will surge exponentially!"
All over the cosmos, Immortal Emperors watched in silence, bewildered by this unimaginable storm of universal law.
Immortal Lords and Kings alike seized this rare opportunity to delve into enlightenment, pushing their cultivation to new heights.
Some, long trapped at the pinnacle of the Immortal King realm, felt their bottlenecks loosen—on the verge of transcending to the realm of Emperors.
This was a once-in-eternity opportunity for all cultivators of the myriad realms.
Yet Ye Chen, oblivious to the cosmic upheaval he had triggered by fusing with the Primordial Chaos Physique, completed the transformation swiftly.
"No wonder this physique is so extraordinary. I alone now embody the fused laws of an entire world! Though my realm hasn't changed, I could now easily defeat a hundred versions of my former self!"
He stared at his palm in astonishment, where threads of law intertwined like divine silk.
If he so desired, he could now construct a complete miniature world from nothing.
Not a mere secret realm—but a true, autonomous world.
[System Notification: Half a month from now, a Grand Genius Gathering will be held at the Fulong Mountains. Host is advised to attend to recruit suitable disciples. Substantial rewards await.]
"More rewards? This system really spoils me…"
Ye Chen smiled contentedly and shifted through the void to arrive beside the Enlightenment Tea Tree.
"Rustle, rustle—"
The tree swayed joyfully upon sensing Ye Chen's presence, its vibrant leaves glowing emerald as countless Dao threads hung from its branches.
"At last, I can take it easy for a while."
With a satisfied sigh, Ye Chen reclined beneath the ancient tree, eyes closed in blissful repose.