The Legend of Futian

"What clue?" asked Ye Futian. The cultivators of the Domain Chief's Manor were holing up at the moment, so he had already reached his goal.

After this incident, those from the Divine Prefecture that wanted to handle him or other Practitioners from the Ziwei Segmentum would have to consider whether they could bear his revenge before acting.

So, the next goal was to refine extraordinary elixirs.

Elixirs were an exterior help, but the best of them were not used to enhance one's cultivation level but to help people get enlightened, like the ones containing the powerful force of the Great Path of Life that he had refined to shape the root.

Elixirs could be classified into many categories. The best Alchemy Masters should know what the best ones were.

Due to the limitation of the cultivation level of Supreme Deity Donglai, the elixir recipes that used to suit him did not suit him anymore. He needed something stronger. That was why he had asked Xi Chiyao for help.

And Xi Chiyao did not disappoint him. She brought him good news very soon.

"The Deity Map," Xi Chiyao said. "There is no top Alchemy Master in the Divine Prefecture for now, but the West Sea Domain remains the most powerful domain in terms of alchemy. There are many masters. And many Deity Islands have a strong alchemy atmosphere. Do you know why?"

Ye Futian shook his head. As far as he knew, the West Sea Domain was powerful among the 18 domains in the Divine Prefecture in terms of alchemy, which was exactly the second reason that he came here. However, he did not really know why that was.

"It's a legend. It's already impossible to tell whether it's true or false, but it could be partly true even if it's not completely true. You might as well just hear it out." Xi Chiyao went on, "It was the Age of the Gods before the collapse of the Heavenly Path. There were many Great Emperors. Significant changes happened to the Heavenly Law later. The gods fell, and the Heavenly Path collapsed. The old world expanded and evolved into the current world. However, the gods didn't fall completely or die out after the collapse of the Heavenly Path. Instead, their will remains everywhere in the world. For example, the inheritance of Shenyin the Great that you got earlier is one of them."

Ye Futian was listening to her quietly. Shenyin the Great traveled through the void for countless days and years on a black turtle, and his soul was sealed in a guqin called Yearning.

Actually, he did have assumed that the gods from ancient times might still exist in the world, only in a different form.

It had been proved in this Original Realm.

"Legend has it that there was an alchemist who was a Great Emperor in that era. He was incarnated as an elixir committed to an ancient Practitioner's care and imparted his alchemy to the latter. That Practitioner survived the turbulent days partly thanks to the help of the will of the Great Emperor. Many years later, when he had achieved a very high cultivation level, he started an alchemy school and stayed on an ancient celestial mountain to cultivate."

"However, people cast their covetous eyes on him because of his alchemy skills. Countless Practitioners from that era sieged him, intending to kill him. And he lost his life that way. It's said many of his treasures were looted, but his disciples also took many out of there, which were later possessed by civilians."

"The celestial mountain in the legend is in the West Sea Domain nowadays. That's the reason that many gorgeous elixir recipes appeared in the West Sea Domain. And there is also a Deity Map. It's said to be the key to finding the celestial mountain."

Xi Chiyao looked at Ye Futian quietly after finishing her story. Ye Futian seemed to be digesting what he had heard. He looked at Xi Chiyao after a while of silence. "So, that Deity Map probably has shown up on the Jiuyi Celestial Mountain?"

"Yep. There are always rumors like that, and many alchemists have been looking for the Deity Map. Alchemists are different from Practitioners. What they quest is extraordinary elixirs, and many of them are hermits that are not interested in starting any school or sect. Of course, the quest for stronger elixirs is to enhance their cultivation level, too. The higher their cultivation level is, the better elixirs they will be able to refine. The two are complementary."

Xi Chiyao responded, "But we have got definite news that the Deity Map probably have appeared. That's why I said Renhuang Ye was the Man of Destiny."

"It might just be a coincidence," Ye Futian replied with a smile. In fact, he had realized that strange things kept happening to him, too, and such a coincidence was absolutely not a new thing for him. It happened in the past, too.

He called himself the Divine Body of the Heavenly Path, but could he harbor a destiny for real? Was he born to be an emperor?

He could explain none of those.

"So, the appearance of the Deity Map can start another bloody war, can't it?" asked Ye Futian. The Deity Map had to do with the legendary celestial mountain, and the inheritances of the Great Emperor might be there. Putting Alchemy Masters aside, even other forces would compete for them because if they got those inheritances, their family would never lack top Alchemy Masters in the future.

They could either use mature Alchemy Masters or cultivate new ones by themselves.

"I am afraid that will be inevitable. I'm one of the first that have got the news. Renhuang Ye, you can bring the date of your trip forward. In that way, you might be able to beat the other forces to it." Xi Chiyao added, "If you need anything, the West Imperial Palace can offer you some help."

Ye Futian was quite surprised at Xi Chiyao's offer. Looking at her in surprise, he said, "The Deity Map will help to find treasures and the celestial mountain in the West Sea Domain. If the West Imperial Palace gets it, you will attract many Alchemy Masters from the West Sea Domain to your force, and they will be useful for you. So, why did the West Imperial Palace come to tell me about the news instead of trying to find it yourselves?"

It was such a precious thing that even top forces would not want to miss it. Besides, the West Imperial Palace was so powerful in the West Sea Domain. The closer you are to the thing you want, the easier you will get it. Odds were that they would find the Deity Map.

"We might be able to get the Deity Map, but it's hard to find top Alchemy Masters. However, in my opinion, Renhuang Ye will probably become one of them. Therefore, if Renhuang Ye finds the Deity Map and the celestial mountain with the help of the West Imperial Palace, I hope we can share the benefits and work together," said Xi Chiyao in a low voice. The ship's surroundings were sealed by some powerful cultivators so that no one could hear their conversation.

Gazing at Xi Chiyao, Ye Futian said, "Isn't the West Imperial Palace afraid to offend the Donghuang Imperial Palace by allying with me?"

He was hailed as the successor of Emperor Ye Qing. No one in the Divine Prefecture had the nerve to be close to him.

Because no one wanted to offend the Donghuang Imperial Palace.

"We are. That's why it will be a secret alliance," Xi Chiyao said with a smile. "Most of the time, Renhuang Ye will still need to work hard yourself. The West Imperial Palace will offer you the help in our power."

"Goddess Chiyao, do you trust me so much?" staring at her, Ye Futian asked.

"Judging from Renhuang Ye's past, I totally trust you," responded Xi Chiyao. The trust they were talking about had many levels of meaning.

"Thank you." Ye Futian threw Xi Chiyao a significant look.

"When will you depart, Renhuang Ye?" asked Xi Chiyao.

"Now," answered Ye Futian.

"Okay." Xi Chiyao nodded. "Renhuang Ye, you are fast enough. I don't think you'll need me to lead the way. This is the sea map of the West Sea Domain. The main islands in there are all marked on the map. You'll find it very helpful. Of course, there are also some special islands that few people know or haven't been discovered yet. Those islands are certainly not marked."

Taking the jade slip Xi Chiyao handed him, Ye Futian said, "Thank you, Goddess Chiyao."

"Safe trip, Renhuang Ye. The West Imperial Palace has acted, too. Some of us already arrived at the Jiuyi Celestial Mountain, and I will also go there," said Xi Chiyao.

"Okay. I'll see you on the Jiuyi Celestial Mountain then," said Ye Futian.

Xi Chiyao nodded. Then she saw Ye Futian disappear from the ship without leaving any trace behind.

Seeing him disappear, Xi Chiyao smiled. And her pretty eyes seemed to sparkle. However, the old man next to her frowned. He said, "He was just here, but we still can't capture any trace of his aura, just like before. He would be a pain in the neck if he were our enemy."

"Well, it's Chief Xihai who has the pain in his neck now," said Xi Chiyao with a smile.

The old man shook his head, hoping Ye Futian would not be their enemy because such an enemy would even get the West Imperial Palace into trouble.

…

The Jiuyi Celestial Mountain was a mountain, but it was also an island built on a mountain.

Mount Jiuyi was called the Jiuyi Mountains at the beginning. Then a big city was built on the endless mountain range. Looked down from the sky, the mountains were like countless divine dragons twisting their bodies.

The city built on the Jiuyi Celestial Mountain was super prosperous. More than that, it was in chaos, too. It used to be a barren area without any original inhabitants, and all of the Practitioners living there were outsiders.

Some gorgeous Alchemy Masters came here to trade initially, and they would come back here at intervals. That brought more Alchemy Masters here little by little.

Since Alchemy Masters were living here, there were certainly elixirs and other precious things. Therefore, Practitioners from everywhere were attracted here to seek treasures.

As time went by, the barren Jiuyi Mountains developed into the current Jiuyi Celestial Mountain and gave birth to a prosperous city. The entire West Sea Domain knew about this Deity Island, and people would come here to trade and seek treasures.

That was how the city became prosperous and chaotic.

Murders and robberies were frequent.

And some forces and Alchemy Masters started to base themselves here.

In the past few days, more people were visiting the Jiuyi Celestial Mountain than usual. They flew across the air over the sea and into the air over the Jiuyi Celestial Mountain. Rumor had it that the Deity Map had been seen here, so powerful cultivators from various islands in the West Sea Domain were drawn here.

In the crowd that had arrived at the Jiuyi Celestial Mountain, there was an unspeakably handsome white-haired man in white with his hands behind his back. He looked down. By glancing over with his divine consciousness, he found the Practitioners on the celestial mountain were all very strong.

Those weaker ones probably would not come here because it would be useless even if they came.

He looked into the distance. Xi Chiyao told him that this celestial mountain was full of Alchemy Masters. If he could recruit some of them, it would be doubtless a good thing for developing the Ziwei Segmentum. Besides, he probably could ask Goddess Donglai to convene the Alchemy Masters on the Eastern Deity Island if such an opportunity came up.

Although average elixirs were not good enough for him, elixirs of all grades would be necessary for the growth of the Ziwei Segmentum, and he could give them to other Alchemy Masters.