122: The first person to defy fate

Three months later.

In a hidden valley tens of millions of miles away from the Pill Alliance.

Ripples stirred across a pool of emerald water as Cao Bu burst forth, landing nimbly on a green stone by the shore.

Immediately after, Leng Yue also quietly surfaced.

On her habitually cold face, a rare, faint blush could be seen.

A few strands of wet hair clung to her smooth forehead and cheeks, adding a touch of softness and vitality to her appearance.

Finally, Yan Ruyu emerged.

Her peach blossom eyes were shimmering with moisture, and the corners of her eyes were tinged with a distinct, charming redness.

Standing on the green stone, she lightly tossed her long hair, the splashing water droplets refracting tiny golden glints in the sunlight.

When she looked at Cao Bu, a faint smile played on her lips.

"Master!"

Yan Ruyu stepped forward quickly and affectionately took Cao Bu's arm, her eyes filled with undisguised adoration.

Cao Bu raised his hand and rubbed her hair bun, his tone gentle. "My little Yu's performance just now was steadier than before."

Yan Ruyu nuzzled his palm like a kitten, a look of enjoyment on her face.

"Hmph!"

Leng Yue, standing to the side, couldn't help but let out a soft snort, a hint of dissatisfaction flashing in her eyes.

This wretched girl was far too good at pleasing Cao Bu.

Seeing this, Yan Ruyu immediately let go of Cao Bu, walked over to take her snow-white arm, and said coaxingly, "Sister Leng, don't be angry."

After spending three months together day and night, the three had become very well-acquainted.

As for Gu Chuyan, she had parted ways with them midway.

The Cultivation Technique she practiced required devouring the flesh and blood of living beings to progress quickly, which was ultimately a different path from Cao Bu and the others.

"You girl, where did you learn all this?"

Thinking of what had just happened, Leng Yue couldn't help but sigh.

She had been married to Gu Qingtian for many years, yet she surprisingly knew less than a young girl.

"If Sister Leng wants to learn, I can teach you," Yan Ruyu said with a wink and a playful tone.

Upon hearing this, the redness that had just faded from Leng Yue's face flared up into an unnatural blush again.

"Just some crooked ways, who would want to learn that?" she said with feigned annoyance before turning and walking quickly ahead.

Cao Bu and Yan Ruyu shared a smile and quickly followed.

Before long.

The three stood on a mountain peak less than a hundred miles from the Pill Alliance.

"The Pill Alliance is just ahead."

Leng Yue pointed into the distance, her voice carrying a hint of solemnity.

Cao Bu stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing through the thin mist toward the Pill Alliance Holy Land.

The first thing to catch his eye was a dense mist of pure Spiritual Qi mixed with pill energy, shimmering with a faint seven-colored radiance in the sunlight.

Beneath the radiance, the outlines of countless mountain peaks were faintly visible, their layout subtly aligning with profound array principles.

The towering giant peak at the very center was particularly eye-catching; it was dark gold throughout and, from a distance, resembled a colossal Pill Furnace standing between heaven and earth, its Aura immensely grand.

In the air, the fragrances of thousands of Spirit Medicines intertwined, forming a unique field; a single breath was enough to clear one's mind and bring peace to the soul.

The three tapped their toes lightly and flew slowly through the air toward the Pill Alliance.

On the way, Leng Yue took the initiative to explain, "Nearly eighty percent of the Alchemy forces in the entire Spirit Realm are gathered within the Pill State, and the Pill Alliance is the absolute core of the Pill State."

"The composition of the Pill Alliance is extremely complex. It is led by one Immortal Emperor-level force and three Emperor-level forces, along with nine Immortal Holy Lands, eighteen ordinary Holy Lands, and thirty-six Super forces."

"The leaders of these forces all hold corresponding positions within the Pill Alliance, balancing and depending on one another."

She paused, her tone becoming even more serious. "More importantly, the current Pill Emperor is an existence who attained the Emperor Realm ten thousand years ago."

"Her cultivation has now reached the fifth level of the Great Emperor Realm. Even among all the Great Emperor Realm experts in the Spirit Realm, she is at the top level."

"Furthermore, there have long been rumors that this Pill Emperor is exceptionally gifted and has the potential for Immortal Ascension."

"In terms of talent alone, she ranks among the best of all Great Emperors."

Cao Bu and Yan Ruyu listened quietly, committing each piece of key information to memory.

As they discussed the past and present of the Pill Alliance, the mist beneath their feet gradually dispersed, and the magnificent mountain gate of the Pill Alliance appeared before them.

"That's roughly the basic situation of the Pill Alliance." Leng Yue stopped and concluded her explanation.

The three of them simultaneously turned their gazes toward the Pill Alliance mountain gate.

Standing ahead was a green stone stele, a hundred meters tall and as thick as three people's embrace.

The stele was as straight as a sword, with the words 'Pill Alliance' carved on the front.

The calligraphy was bold and powerful, with a sense of weightiness in the strokes that seemed to coexist with heaven and earth.

At that moment.

A man in silver armor, seemingly a guard commander, approached them quickly with two guards.

"May I ask why you have come to our Pill Alliance? Who are you seeking for Alchemy? Do you have an appointment?"

The guard commander spoke politely, though his gaze was scrutinizing.

Leng Yue remained calm and directly presented her identity token. "Leng Yue of the Gu Clan requests an audience with the Pill Emperor."

Upon hearing this, the guard commander's body trembled violently.

In the eyes of the strong in the Spirit Realm, besides Gu Qingtian, the most famous members of the Gu Clan were the three mistresses and the Adopted Son, Cao Bu.

Even Gu Qingtian's two biological sons were not as famous as this Adopted Son.

In the tens of millions of years of the Spirit Realm's history, Cultivators have spent their entire lives pursuing the defiance of heaven to change their fate.

But the only one who could truly take the words 'Heaven-Defying' to the extreme was Cao Bu.

With only a Heavenly Bridge Realm cultivation, he could stand on equal footing with the leaders of many major forces in terms of status.

Such a legendary experience had long since become a spiritual pillar for countless weak beings.

Even more exaggeratedly, after Cao Bu's fame spread, a wave of people seeking to be Adopted Sons quietly emerged.

Even he had taken an Adopted Son named Lü Bu.

Hoping that this Adopted Son would bring him good luck and help him ascend to the Dao of Immortality.

Thinking of this, the guard commander stole a glance at Cao Bu.

Could this calm young man before him be that 'Number One Person to Defy Heaven and Change Fate'?

Not being certain but not daring to be negligent, he hurriedly said, "Please wait a moment while I report to the Pill Emperor."

Just as he finished speaking, a cold female voice drifted down from the summit of the giant peak in the distance. "No need. Bring them directly to me."

The guard commander stopped and bowed respectfully toward the giant peak. "Yes, Pill Emperor."

With that, he turned and made a gesture of invitation to Cao Bu's group. "Please follow me."

The three of them followed the guard commander toward the giant peak.

Cao Bu felt a slight sense of surprise.

Could this Pill Emperor be a woman?

He immediately looked at Leng Yue with a questioning gaze.

Leng Yue understood and explained via sound transmission, "The current Pill Emperor is indeed a woman, and she is the first Pill Emperor in the history of the Spirit Realm to reach the fifth level of the Great Emperor Realm."

"Is she beautiful? How does she compare to you?" Cao Bu asked through sound transmission.

Leng Yue frowned and gave Cao Bu a dissatisfied look, but she still answered truthfully, "She was at the top of the ten beauties of the spirit realm list for several previous terms. Her looks are naturally not bad, though she is perhaps half a point behind me."

As she said this, an imperceptible flash of pride crossed her face.

Cao Bu nodded, a glint flashing in his eyes.

The ten beauties of the spirit realm list only counts experts below the Great Emperor Realm and considers both strength and beauty.

Clearly, the fact that this Pill Emperor could top the list for several terms was mainly due to her outstanding strength, with her beauty being secondary.

"By the way, is she married?" Cao Bu transmitted again.

Leng Yue replied helplessly, "We haven't even seen her yet, and you're already interested in her?"

Cao Bu smiled but said nothing.

He had a special feeling about the ten beauties of the spirit realm.

After all, he had already 'conquered' three of the ten beauties from the current term, so it was inevitable that some strange ideas would arise in his mind.

For instance, collecting all ten beauties, regardless of which term they were from.

After a moment of silence, Leng Yue softened and explained, "She is married, but she only got married not long ago."

A hint of regret flashed in Cao Bu's eyes.

To have been one of the ten beauties of the spirit realm in previous terms, her looks must be exceptional.

It was a pity someone else had beaten him to it.