Old Li, under Ye Chen's control, had no idea what was happening. By the time he regained his senses, he found himself within a grand, imposing hall.
The air was thick with an oppressive might that made even a remnant soul like his feel as insignificant as an ant awaiting annihilation.
Trembling, he raised his gaze and saw a towering figure seated on a throne, shrouded in a dazzling cascade of radiant laws and principles. The divine brilliance obscured the figure's true face, yet there was no doubt in Old Li's heart—this was none other than Mu Yan's master.
"Junior Li Yao greets… greets the esteemed senior!"
Old Li immediately dropped to his knees, not daring to rise.
Before this unfathomable existence, all his pride as a former Great Ascension cultivator had crumbled into dust.
"Li Yao. Cultivator of the Great Ascension stage. Skilled in fire and alchemy."
A cold, indifferent voice echoed from above.
Fortunately, Old Li now existed only as a soul remnant—if he had still possessed a physical body, it would surely have been drenched in cold sweat. Even so, his soul trembled violently, on the verge of dissipating at any moment.
"Senior, I share a karmic bond with your disciple, Mu Yan. I have never harbored ill intent. Please, I beseech you to see the truth!"
Old Li had no clue why this transcendent being had summoned him. For now, he could only cling to whatever connection he had to preserve his meager existence.
Ye Chen said nothing. His mere presence was enough to send Old Li's soul into paroxysms of dread.
"I can grant you a new body. From this day forth, you will serve under me in Kunlun Holy Land."
At last, Ye Chen spoke.
The words sent a tidal wave of disbelief crashing through Old Li's heart. This supreme being was willing to reconstruct his physical form?
Trembling with joy, he realized that someone of such status had no reason to deceive a mere remnant soul. Unless fate played a cruel joke, this was truly the greatest opportunity of his lifetime.
"Senior, I am willing—willing to serve in any way!"
Overwhelmed, Old Li kowtowed madly, forehead striking the floor over and over.
Ye Chen raised his hand, and an array of multicolored law threads surged forth, enveloping Old Li's soul in a cocoon of creation.
He felt his essence brush against the most primal laws of the universe—the very force of genesis itself.
Bones formed first, then blood vessels emerged, followed by sinew and flesh. In moments, a new body stood complete.
For the first time in what felt like eternity, Old Li felt light and free.
He touched his face in disbelief, half-expecting to wake up from a dream.
For so long, he had pinned his hopes on Mu Yan—planning to wait until the boy grew strong enough to help forge a physical vessel. It had seemed an impossible, distant goal.
But in the blink of an eye, his dream had become reality.
He poked and prodded his new form, relishing the dull ache of sensation. The pain made it real.
"I did it! I have a body again—I live once more!"
Tears streamed from his eyes. No longer a drifting remnant, he no longer needed to fear being hunted by soul-collecting sects.
The surging power within him was undeniable—this was no illusion.
"Thank you, Senior! I vow on my life to defend Kunlun Holy Land and never betray your boundless grace!"
Old Li knelt once more, striking the ground with fervent reverence. His voice rang with solemn oath.
Ye Chen, however, remained expressionless. Whether Old Li swore loyalty or not mattered little—those who joined Kunlun were bound by the system itself. At his command, any traitor would be erased, leaving no trace behind.
"Go. From today on, you are an Outer Sect Elder of Kunlun Holy Land," Ye Chen commanded.
He valued Old Li not for his strength, but for his mastery of alchemy. As the sect expanded, Ye Chen needed talents of every kind.
"I obey the Sect Master's decree!"
Old Li was quick to adjust, addressing Ye Chen with proper reverence.
As he exited the hall, his thoughts were a whirlwind.
"Unbelievable… I really have a new body?"
Staring at his own hands, he marveled at the Sect Master's unfathomable power.
Creating a new body required countless rare materials, complex rituals, and tremendous risk.
Even with Mu Yan's help, Old Li had never dared to dream of guaranteed success.
Yet Ye Chen had done it with a mere wave of his hand.
What kind of godlike power was this?
He focused inward, feeling the coursing strength of his new vessel.
"So pure… The quality of this body is extraordinary!"
Its aptitude vastly surpassed his previous form. Once, his peak had been the Great Ascension realm—but now, he truly believed he could reach True Immortality, or even greater heights.
Boom!
A torrent of spiritual power erupted from within him—he had already broken through to the Nascent Soul Refinement stage!
Old Li grinned like a madman.
"Huh?"
Just then, five figures strode toward the great hall—commanding in bearing and aura.
He remembered Mu Yan's earlier mention of five formidable individuals he had encountered. Could these be the same?
"I am Li Yao, Outer Sect Elder of this holy land. Greetings, fellow Daoists."
Old Li greeted them with a smile and cupped fists.
"We are also Outer Sect Elders," the leader replied amiably. "I am Zhang the First. These are Zhang the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth."
Their names were crude, but easy to remember.
After exchanging courtesies, they went their separate ways.
Watching them walk away, a spark of curiosity ignited in Old Li's heart.
They were all Outer Elders—surely their strength couldn't be far off his own?
Now that he had reached the Nascent Soul Refinement stage, he wasn't weak by any means.
He extended a sliver of spiritual sense to probe their cultivation—only to have it ruthlessly repelled by a colossal force.
"Urgh—!"
Old Li groaned as he staggered backward, nearly collapsing from the backlash.
"That power… bottomless! Far beyond the Nascent stage! No—it's beyond Great Ascension!"
He had once stood at that very height. He knew it intimately—and this was on another level entirely.
Could they be in the Tribulation Stage?
Or worse… had they already ascended to True Immortality?
True Immortals.
That fabled threshold between mortals and the divine.
To reach that realm was to transcend life itself—granting thousands of years of longevity and unshackled freedom of soul and flesh.
"So this is the true strength of Kunlun Holy Land…"
Far from discouraged, Old Li clenched his fists with renewed purpose.
To be part of such a mighty and mysterious sect—what fortune, what fate!
One day, he too would breach the gates of True Immortality.
Only then could he be worthy of the Sect Master's grace.
Meanwhile, Zhang the First and his companions had already entered the main hall.
Ye Chen gave them instructions regarding sect management before vanishing.
The five elders watched his fading figure turn to light with awe.
Even this projection of his held such overwhelming might—what could his true body be like?
Kunlun Holy Land was still in its infancy. Much remained unfinished, many resources still lacking. For now, their duties were relatively light.
And just like that, ten days passed.
In that time, the cultivation of Ye Chen's first disciple, Mu Yan, underwent a transformation nothing short of miraculous.