Although the disfigured woman had swallowed an extremely precious, high-grade healing pill, her injuries were simply too severe. She remained curled on the ground, her appearance as miserable as before.

Yet, amidst her shallow gasps, her breathing had finally steadied.

With every rise and fall of her chest, it was clear Chu Chen had dragged her back from the very gates of hell.

Swish!

A long sword pierced the ground half a meter in front of her, its sharp tip sinking deep into the hard bluestone slab.

The blade vibrated back and forth, emitting a crisp, resonant hum.

"Wu... wu!!"

The woman struggled to rise from the ground, tears streaming uncontrollably down her ruined face.

She opened her mouth to speak, but all that escaped were choked sobs and mournful wails.

Finding strength from some unknown depth, she gripped the hilt tightly with both hands. With bloodshot eyes, she advanced step by step toward the old steward, Qian Bao, who remained crucified against the stone wall.

"Mas... Master, no! Don't kill me!"

"This old servant knows his wrongs! I didn't know you were our master. I beg you, give this old servant one more chance!"

"This old servant is at the tenth level of Qi Gathering! I am far more useful to you!"

"That woman is a mere mortal without the strength to bind a chicken, and she's... she's been disfigured! She's not as useful as this old servant! Not as useful!"

"Master! Master!!"

...

Yet, no matter how the old steward Qian Bao shouted, howled, or begged for mercy...

Chu Chen remained seated in the grand armchair, his deep, starry eyes calmly observing the ruined, blood-soaked woman.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Gripping the long sword with both hands, the woman marched relentlessly toward Qian Bao.

Because her body was ravaged by whip lashes, every step left a deep, bloody footprint on the gray bluestone slabs, trailing long and far behind her.

Below the high platform, hundreds of guards and servants knelt on either side, as silent as winter cicadas.

They trembled, their faces full of terror as they observed Chu Chen. They desperately tried to gauge their new master's temper and character, terrified for their own futures.

"Master, this old servant... this old servant is Zhao Kongyang's man!"

"The Heavenly Pride Zhao Kongyang is just like you-a Pro-disciple of our Central Palace! He is also the Central Palace Lord's Pro-disciple!"

"He... he arranged for me to enter this peak to secretly observe your every move, Master, and report back to him at all times!"

Seeing the woman looming right before him, the old steward Qian Bao was completely terrified. His mental defenses shattered.

To save his own life, regardless of what should or shouldn't be said, he immediately spilled everything.

The moment the name of the Heavenly Pride Zhao Kongyang was uttered, the hundreds of guards and servants kneeling before Chu Chen shuddered in fear.

"Master, don't kill this old servant!"

"I will be your beast of burden, your spy! I'll help you gather intelligence on Heavenly Pride Zhao in return!"

Seeing that Chu Chen remained entirely unmoved, and that the woman before him had already raised the long sword to aim at his heart...

The old steward Qian Bao finally snapped and began to curse:

"Chu Chen! Chu Chen, you can't kill me! If I die, Heavenly Pride Zhao won't let you off!"

"I am Heavenly Pride Zhao's man, I am Heavenly Pride Zhao's-"

The woman's eyes brimmed with hot tears, her hands trembling uncontrollably around the hilt. Her father's murderer was right before her eyes; vengeance was finally within reach.

Yet, she hesitated. She turned her head to look back at Chu Chen in the grand armchair.

She...

She didn't want to implicate Chu Chen.

But Chu Chen remained expressionless, his deep eyes quietly gazing ahead, as if none of this concerned him in the slightest.

The woman bit her lip tightly and discarded her hesitation.

Her frail body seemed to possess infinite energy in this singular moment.

Her dark, boundless world finally saw a glimmer of light.

Squwelch!

Gripping the hilt, the woman thrust forward with all her might.

Before the old steward could finish his curse, the sharp tip pierced through his clothes and skin, plunging straight into his heart.

In through the chest, out through the back.

Blood splattered.

His life was extinguished.

With her great revenge achieved, the woman burst into loud, agonizing sobs.

She walked step by step back toward Chu Chen, as if a crushing burden had finally been lifted from her shoulders.

Thud!

Reaching Chu Chen, the woman fell to her knees, holding the long sword up with both hands to offer it back.

"Lift your head and look at me."

Chu Chen did not take the sword. Instead, he sat upright in the grand armchair, carefully observing her.

She possessed a graceful figure and a beautiful underlying bone structure-it was no wonder the old steward Qian Bao had coveted her.

But her fair, delicate face was now marred by a shocking scar, slashing diagonally from her left forehead, straight across her nose and ear.

The wound was deep enough to expose bone, the flesh peeled outward in an extremely gruesome display.

"What is your name?"

The woman answered in a hoarse, raspy voice:

"Answering Master, my name is Yu... Yu Youwei!"

Yu Youwei?

It was a good name.

"I keep my word. You killed him."

"Then you are my personal maidservant, and the steward of this peak."

Chu Chen raised his voice, speaking to Yu Youwei, but ensuring the hundreds of guards and servants kneeling before him heard every word:

"From today onward, these hundreds of servants and guards are all under your command."

"Their lives are yours to decide!"

As these words fell, the entire peak became so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

After a brief moment of shock, Yu Youwei quickly composed herself and spoke expressionlessly:

"Yes, Master."

"Master, this sword..."

Chu Chen waved his hand.

"It's yours."

Yu Youwei did not refuse. Standing up, she stared intently at Chu Chen with wide eyes. Only after a long while did she speak:

"I owe you a life!"

"I will definitely... definitely repay it!"

Even Yu Youwei herself didn't fully believe she could, but she still mustered the courage to declare it.

"..."

Chu Chen was slightly taken aback. Looking at the earnest Yu Youwei, he nodded and casually replied:

"I will remember that."

With her parents tragically killed and her body so severely injured, Chu Chen had intended to let Yu Youwei rest for a few days.

But the girl was too stubborn. Dragging her wounded body, she immediately began directing the guards and servants to continue cleaning the palace.

The old steward Qian Bao's corpse was still nailed to the stone wall. Terrified out of their wits by their new master, the guards and servants naturally obeyed Yu Youwei, the new steward, without question.

Seeing this, Chu Chen didn't say much. He remained seated in the grand armchair.

Amidst the pungent scent of blood, he watched the clouds and mist churning over the mountaintop, absorbing the Spiritual Qi drifting between heaven and earth as he began to cultivate.

He wasn't worried about Yu Youwei's condition. After all, the Pill he had fed her earlier was no ordinary item.

It was the Bodhi Life-Giving Pill, a High Grade Profound Pill. It was priceless and possessed miraculous healing effects.

Generally, as long as a person had a single breath left, it could pull them back from the brink.

Spiritual objects and Pills on the Desolate Ancient Continent were divided into six major tiers:

Mortal Grade, Spirit Grade, Yellow Grade, Profound Grade, Earth Grade, and Heaven Grade!

Even the Earth Core Fire Spirit Fruit that the Saint King realm powerhouse, Palace Lord Bai Yu, had given to Empress Lin Shuwang was only Earth Grade. This Bodhi Life-Giving Pill was already a High Grade Profound Pill, only slightly inferior.

Let alone a mortal like Yu Youwei, even Spirit Communication Realm experts or Sacred Flame realm experts might not be able to produce such a Pill.

His nominal master, Qi Lao'er, had only given Chu Chen three. After giving one to Yu Youwei, he only had two left.

Using such a precious Pill on a mortal with no connection to him-Chu Chen might not be the first or the last to do so in history.

But within the entire Divine Flame Imperial Palace, it would be hard to find a second person willing to do the same.

Yet for Chu Chen, in this life, he did not act based on mere gain or loss. He only sought a clear Dao heart.

If he thought it was worth it, then it was worth it.

Under Yu Youwei's arrangements, the thousand servants and guards took their posts, tidying up the entire peak in an orderly manner.

Some tended to the spirit beasts.

Some mined the spiritual ores.

Some cultivated the Spirit Grass.

...

The entire peak was like the rising sun.

Thriving and full of boundless vitality.

Before long, Yu Youwei had changed into clean clothes. Holding a cup of freshly brewed hot tea, she walked up to Chu Chen.

"Master, please have some tea."

Chu Chen took the teacup. The temperature was just right.

He took a light sip. The tea's rich fragrance filled his mouth, lingering pleasantly on his lips and teeth.

He couldn't help but take another look at Yu Youwei, quite satisfied with his newly appointed steward.

The Yu Youwei before him wore a light green dress, devoid of any jewelry or accessories. Yet, she stood like a lotus in a summer pond-graceful, elegant, and refined.

It was a pleasing sight.

But...

That ferocious scar running across her nose and ear destroyed all that beauty, making anyone who saw it instinctively keep their distance.

"The Bodhi Life-Giving Pill can only save your life, but it cannot heal your face."

Saying this, Chu Chen let out a faint sigh.

Although he carried many treasures, he lacked the rare Spirit Pills and spiritual objects required to restore one's appearance.

"Does... does Master find it repulsive?"

Chu Chen was startled by the question and subconsciously shook his head.

Yu Youwei expressionlessly bowed to Chu Chen. Her eyes, which had previously been empty and hollow, now held a hint of liveliness.

"As long as Master doesn't find it repulsive, Youwei does not care."

Changing the subject, Yu Youwei brought out a brush and paper she had prepared earlier. Spreading them before Chu Chen, she bowed and said:

"Master, the peak has been tidied up."

"This peak is your cultivation dojo. According to the rules of the Divine Flame Imperial Palace, please bestow a name upon this peak, Master."

Name it?

Chu Chen was momentarily stunned, then subconsciously nodded.

He really did need to think of a good name. After all, he would be spending a long time cultivating on this peak.

The dojo was not only a place for daily practice and Secluded Cultivation, but it was also where he would receive Fellow Daoists who came to discuss the Dao.

Without a good name, he would lose half his imposing presence before a word was even spoken.

But what name should he choose?

His master Qi Lao'er's peak was called Red King Mountain, which was why the Central Palace of the Divine Flame Imperial Palace was also known as the Red King Palace-a truly domineering title.

Taking a deep breath, Chu Chen suddenly had an idea. He picked up the brush and swept it across the rice paper.

"Chaos Peak!"

The characters were written with vigorous, flying strokes, the intent behind them penetrating deep into the parchment.

He was born with the Chaos God Physique. After his great battle with the Empress, although his divine body had been shattered, the Chaos Qi had long since dissolved into his very flesh and blood.

Naming it "Chaos" was perfectly fitting.

As soon as the name was finalized, the Providence of the entire peak resonated with an unseen force. It surged like beacon smoke, multiplying hundreds of times over as it shot straight into the nine heavens.

"All things in the world are evolved from Chaos."

"Chaos Peak-a good name!"

Yu Youwei carefully put away the rice paper bearing the characters for "Chaos Peak," then said:

"Master, Youwei will immediately have someone carve a plaque and hang it in the main hall of the peak."

Chu Chen looked at Yu Youwei with some surprise. For a mortal to speak with such understanding was no ordinary matter.

But he didn't dwell on it. He waved his hand, and Yu Youwei withdrew once more.

When Yu Youwei had arranged everything and reappeared, she found Chu Chen still seated in the grand armchair, quietly watching the churning sea of clouds.

She couldn't help but feel curious. Mustering her courage, she asked softly:

"Mas... Master, are you... waiting for someone?"

Chu Chen nodded, then spoke a shocking truth:

"That's right. I am waiting for the people who want to kill me."

As soon as the words fell, a sharp clatter rang out. The teacup in Yu Youwei's hands slipped and shattered against the ground.

"Master, forgive me! Youwei deserves death! Youwei deserves death!"

But Chu Chen didn't blame her. He stood up from the grand armchair and said meaningfully:

"Yu Youwei, if you don't want to die with me, there is still time to leave."

Although Yu Youwei was surprised, she did not flee. She simply stepped closer to Chu Chen, silently standing guard beside him.

Although she had no cultivation, she could at least die before Chu Chen, buying him a fleeting moment to escape.

Chu Chen watched several streaks of light rapidly approaching from afar, their momentum scattering the churning sea of clouds. He said calmly:

"No, it's too late."

As soon as the words fell, several array banners descended from the sky.

Spiritual power surged out wildly, forming a massive Formation that completely enveloped Chaos Peak, threatening to refine everything within.

"Chu Chen has murdered a fellow disciple! According to the rules of our Divine Flame Imperial Palace, he shall be killed without mercy!"

A figure strode through the air, his steps possessing the majesty of a dragon and a tiger. The Pressure of the Spirit Communication Realm swept across heaven and earth:

"The Palace Lord is not here, so I, Zhao Kongyang, will execute the sentence on his behalf!!"