Eternal Holy Emperor
Chapter 248 - 222 Heavenly and Myriads of Realms

Chapter 248: Chapter 222 Heavenly and Myriads of Realms

Hongtian Great Saint chuckled and invited Ye Chen to take a seat, directly pouring him a cup of wine. The rich and fragrant aroma of the wine was overwhelming, marking it as a top-grade liquor. He said, "Young friend, please taste this. It is the newest wine I have brewed, made with plenty of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures mixed with some medicinal ingredients. What do you think?"

Ye Chen did not taste it right away; instead, he simply lifted the cup to his nose for a light sniff and then smiled. "Senior Hongtian, if I’m not mistaken, the medicinal liquor you have brewed contains Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures such as Hundred Flower Fruit, Heavenly Face Grass, Langie, Orchid Daisy, and Snake Fruit as the chief ingredients, along with medicinal materials like Nine Heavens Orchid Grass and Summer Withering Grass."

Upon hearing this, a look of surprise flickered across Hongtian Great Saint’s face, and he exclaimed in admiration, "Young friend, you are truly worthy of being Mr. Qian’s proud disciple. Your extraordinary ability to guess the ingredients of the wine with just a whiff is truly admirable."

"Not at all, not at all, Senior, you flatter me." Ye Chen said with a shake of his head and a smile: "My master is an Alchemist, and under his guidance, I’ve studied the art of alchemy quite a bit and am familiar with many medicinal materials, so recognizing them was not difficult."

Then he took a light sip and revealed a look of astonishment, smilingly saying, "The exquisite wine brewed by Senior Hongtian is indeed sweet and fragrant, lingering on the lips and memorable."

Receiving such praise made Hongtian Great Saint very happy. After they had sampled the wine for a moment, Hongtian Great Saint looked at Ye Chen with a smile and said, "There’s no such thing as an uninvited guest who doesn’t seek favors. Is your visit this time concerning the matter of medicinal materials?"

"Senior Hongtian is truly a Divine Spirit. I truly cannot hide anything from you," Ye Chen replied without concealment.

"The medicinal ingredients have been prepared for some time already," Hongtian Great Saint said with a slight smile. With a wave of his sleeve, several orbs of light flew out from various corners of the hall, hovering between him and Ye Chen, each herb exuding a dim and colorful radiance.

"Netherworld Grass of six thousand years, Earth Soul Fruit of five thousand five hundred years, Heavenly Blood Lotus of eight thousand years, Sky-reaching Flower of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years, Heavenly Snow Chrysanthemum of three thousand years..."

Ye Chen’s eyes lingered, recognizing that these medicinal ingredients were not all Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, only a very small portion were.

In fact, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that had lived over a thousand years generally possessed some divine effects for extending lifespan, and were rare. While these were just old medicinal materials, to some extent, they could rival some precious Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, but extending life was another matter.

Suddenly, Ye Chen furrowed his brows and said, "Senior Hongtian, is there a major ingredient missing?"

Hongtian Great Saint nodded, and with a summoning gesture, another orb of light flew towards them. It was a grass with only one branch and leaf, circulating with a red, snow-like radiance, which stood out brightly.

"It’s a Nine Heavens Orchid Grass of a thousand years." Ye Chen recognized this herb, a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that had reached a thousand years. This particular Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure was unique. It would only grow a new leaf every thousand years, but each leaf had a different color.

First it was red, followed by orange, then yellow, growing in the order of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, black, and white.

When the herb aged to nine thousand years and produced nine leaves, it displayed a nine-colored hue. It was said that it could cure all poisons in the world and even heal Dao injuries, making it a Ten Thousand Spirit Divine Medicine.

With a light sigh, the Great Saint said, "The other medicinal materials have already been prepared, but the Nine Heavens Orchid Grass is extremely rare in this world. Even after mobilizing all my resources, I was only able to find this one, with just a bit over a thousand years of growth."

Ye Chen’s gaze became concentrated. This Nine Heavens Orchid Grass was extremely important, being one of the key ingredients for the Ten Thousand Clearing Pill that could heal the Dao injuries within Hongtian Great Saint’s body—it was indispensable.

If the age of this Nine Heavens Orchid Grass fell short, it would lead to the entire Ten Thousand Clearing Pill’s efficacy being greatly diminished, a fact beyond comparison.

The medicinal materials prepared by Hongtian Great Saint were all at least four thousand years old, ensuring high-quality efficacy and a higher success rate for alchemy. If there was only a barely thousand-year-old Nine Heavens Orchid Grass, it would greatly reduce the quality of the final pill produced.

Moreover, what’s more important is that it might lead to the failure of the alchemy process.

With a furrowed brow, Ye Chen said, "Senior Hongtian, my teacher once said that when making pills, the quality of ingredients mustn’t be uneven. It’s better to lack than to be indiscriminate. Otherwise, melting this thousand-year Nine Heavens Orchid Grass with the other materials—reducing the quality is a minor issue, but more importantly, the requirements for that kind of pill are very high, and this could even lead to an easy failure in the alchemy process."

Hongtian Great Saint had also learned about Pill Making and understood the strictness of this ancient profession, which always adhered to the principle of ’better to lack than to be indiscriminate.’ But he, too, frowned, at a loss as to where to find a Nine Heavens Orchid Grass of over four thousand years at a moment’s notice.

Was he supposed to wait for this Nine Heavens Orchid Grass to grow to four thousand years? Even if he was to sit in meditation, he would not have the chance to wait, especially since he only had four more years to live. When the time was up, he would die from his Dao injury.

Frowning, Hongtian Great Saint then said, "Perhaps I should personally go to the Central Region to inquire with some of the friends who lie dormant. They might have some, though I really do not wish to owe those people any favors unless it’s absolutely necessary."

Favors among Divine Spirits were no ordinary matter.

Ye Chen smiled, "Senior Hongtian, you are mistaken in your words. As important as favors are, life is even more so. Moreover, it might not just be a favor, as they would surely be willing to lend a hand. The Heaven Punishment War is upon us, and every divine being is of paramount importance, indispensable. I believe those people would also be willing to act. And I’m certain, Senior Hongtian, you wouldn’t want to see your homeland destroyed by an alien race."

Hongtian Great Saint sighed softly, "Young friend, what you’ve said is true. If it were not for the Heaven Punishment War, I would not wish to entangle myself with these worldly affairs. I would prefer to retire to the mountains and forests to lead a reclusive life in harmony with nature, away from the strife of the world."

In his words, Hongtian Great Saint showed a trace of world-weariness.

Ye Chen suddenly said, "Senior Hongtian, have you ever considered leaving the Tiandu Continent and venturing into the more vast expanse of the Exotic Realm?"

Hongtian Great Saint was taken aback and then chuckled, "Young friend, you jest. The Exotic Realm is where those alien species live. Even if I could leave this world—which I cannot—it would not be a place for me to live. I would surely face the alien races’ attacks."

"You are mistaken," Ye Chen shook his head in disagreement. "I’m afraid you all have misunderstood the Exotic Realm."

"Why is it a mistake? I would like to hear your view," Senior Hongtian said, suddenly interested.

"My teacher once mentioned that the Exotic Realm is known as the Heavenly and Myriads of Realms, infinite and boundless. One single realm is much more expansive and vast than the Tiandu Continent. There are countless species and beings within, and the number of creatures there far exceeds that of the Tiandu Continent. In some of those worlds, they even speak of the Heavenly Realm," Ye Chen explained.

"Actually, the alien races that watch over the Tiandu Continent are just a small part of the people from the Heavenly and Myriads of Realms. Surely there would be a place to reside if you wished to go. It really just depends on whether Senior Hongtian wants to or not."

Upon hearing this, Hongtian Great Saint’s eyes widened with shock, and his gaze shot out dazzling light radiance, quite blinding.

For the first time, he learned that the Exotic Realm was called the Heavenly and Myriads of Realms, where each realm was more vast than the Tiandu Continent, and together they formed a truly boundless vast world.

There, lived myriad species and countless beings—a land where numerous races converged from ancient times.

If it were anyone else claiming such, it might have been dismissed, but the thought that Mr. Qian, shrouded in mystery, might originate from the enigmatic Heavenly and Myriads of Realms took hold.

Curiosity about the vast Heavenly and Myriads of Realms burgeoned in the heart of Hongtian Great Saint.

Unable to restrain himself, Hongtian Great Saint asked Ye Chen, "Dare I ask if your teacher, Mr. Qian, comes from those Heavenly and Myriads of Realms?"

Ye Chen responded with a slight smile, "Senior Hongtian, although I shouldn’t speak on behalf of my teacher, I can tell you that indeed, my teacher comes from the Heavenly and Myriads of Realms."

Though he had guessed as much, Ye Chen’s confirmation still left Hongtian Great Saint visibly astounded.

The Heavenly and Myriads of Realms, the Exotic Realm, that is a place that the beings on Tiandu Continent aspire to for their entire lives. To go beyond this narrow world and venture into a more vast and expansive one.

After the shock, Hongtian Great Saint became calm again, naturally. Mr. Qian, the mysterious one, had never been seen on the Tiandu Continent. The birth of every divine being always stirred the land with massive fluctuations and a tribulation. No one could ascend to the Divine Spirit Realm in silence and without notice.

No wonder no news about Mr. Qian had ever been ascertained. Hailing from the Exotic Realm, how could any news about him be found on the Tiandu Continent?

Ye Chen added, "But, Senior Hongtian, please don’t doubt my teacher. He has no intention of surveilling or blockading Tiandu Continent like some others do. He does not wish to destroy or to interfere. He merely wanted to travel through various worlds, and it just so happened that he wandered into a space wormhole and entered Tiandu Continent. I hope you do not hold this against him."

"Young friend, do not worry. Mr. Qian has taken an oath under the Heavenly Dao. I believe he has no ill intentions towards Tiandu Continent," said Hongtian Great Saint.

"It’s best you understand that, Senior," said Ye Chen.

After staying for half an hour, Ye Chen collected all the medicinal materials and stood up to salute Hongtian Great Saint, "Senior, I must take my leave due to some matters."

"Travel safely, young friend. Monkey, see our young friend off properly," instructed Hongtian Great Saint to the Silver Ape King while he gazed at Ye Chen’s departing figure in deep thought.

A moment later, he tore through the void, rushing into it, and traversed through the Space of Plane.

Soon after, he breached a barrier and appeared in the Central Region tens of thousands of miles away. Releasing his Divine Thought, he summoned the other Divine Ancestors and said, "Fellow beings, Mr. Qian comes from the Exotic Realm..."