Inside the secret chamber of Chaos Peak.

After activating the Formation to conceal his aura as usual, Chu Chen quietly mobilized the power of the supreme extreme emperor weapon, the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar, to envelop the entire secret chamber before finally feeling at ease.

In truth, Chu Chen's caution and prudence were not without reason.

In a corner of the void, Dao Protector Zhong Sheng suddenly opened his tightly shut eyes. Two sharp beams of light shot from his pupils, piercing through the chaotic spacetime to gaze at the secret chamber on Chaos Peak, his face full of confusion.

"Strange, I can't sense this little fellow's aura?"

"I am a Great Saint of the Third Heaven. Even the external Heaven-Sealing Formation cannot stop me. Could this kid possess a Formation even more powerful than the Heaven-Sealing Formation?"

"Never mind. For the Palace Master to value him so highly, and for him to have defeated Her Majesty the Empress's peerless heavenly prodigy three years ago, it would be abnormal if he didn't harbor some secrets."

As he spoke, Dao Protector Zhong Sheng tore through the void and returned to the real world. He concealed his aura, hiding in a corner of Chaos Peak, as still as an old monk in meditation.

The most important duty of a Dao Protector was to safeguard Chu Chen's life.

If Chu Chen died, Zhong Sheng would inevitably be mercilessly slaughtered by Qi Lao'er.

Zhong Sheng was currently only a Great Saint of the Third Heaven. Although he could wield spatial power, his comprehension was shallow, preventing him from remaining hidden in the void for long periods.

Every so often, he had to return to the real world, or else he would be ground to ash by the chaotic spacetime currents.

Only by breaking through to the Saint King Realm could one remain in the boundless void for extended periods, exploring the ruins and divine treasures hidden within the spacetime currents.

"Little Vajra Fruit, Hibiscus Flower, Biyou Cold Fruit, Fruitwood Vine, and Gale Stone. Although they are relatively low-level heavenly and earthly spiritual objects, they are more than enough to break through to the Essence Condensation Realm."

Chu Chen waved his hand. Five heavenly and earthly spiritual objects, rich in dense spiritual power, floated out from his Storage Ring and hovered in mid-air. The inherent spiritual light of these objects instantly illuminated the entire secret chamber.

"Go!!"

With a sharp shout, the spiritual power within his body surged out wildly, instantly enveloping these heavenly and earthly spiritual objects before beginning to refine them bit by bit.

According to common sense, a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator would need at least three days to refine and absorb these five heavenly and earthly spiritual objects.

Even for Chu Chen, who possessed a Top Grade full-attribute full Spiritual Root, it would take a full day.

But with the Emperor-level technique, the Chaos Heaven-Swallowing Manual, that single day was forcibly compressed into a mere instant.

"Chaos Heaven-Swallowing Manual, refine them for me!!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Before the most domineering technique of the Desolate Ancient Continent, the Chaos Heaven-Swallowing Manual, these heavenly and earthly spiritual objects couldn't even last a single breath before being completely refined into the purest energy.

Seeing this, Chu Chen was overjoyed.

Using his own spiritual power as a guide, he absorbed all this mixed-attribute energy into his body. At the same time, the Chaos Heaven-Swallowing Manual operated at full power, forcibly devouring the miscellaneous attribute Spiritual Qi drifting freely between heaven and earth.

As the energy of various attributes continuously poured into his body, the Spiritual Roots within Chu Chen lit up one after another.

"Essence Condensation Realm, break for me!!"

Boom!!

The invisible barrier within his body was forcibly shattered. Chu Chen's aura instantly skyrocketed, and the Spiritual Qi within his body transformed in a flash into a more condensed, more powerful True Essence that filled his entire being.

Essence Condensation Realm, First Heaven, achieved!

After successfully breaking through, Chu Chen felt the power within his body-a force far surpassing that of an ordinary Essence Condensation Realm cultivator-and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Although his Chaos God Physique was shattered, the Chaos Qi had completely dissolved into his flesh and blood. It could be considered a blessing in disguise.

Added to that was the refining and absorption of the God Phoenix Feather stripped from the Empress Lin Shuwang-a heaven-defying object equivalent to an Immortal Medicine. Chu Chen's current physical strength was comparable to that of a Divine Fire Realm powerhouse.

For Chu Chen, being invincible at the same level was hardly worth mentioning; fighting across realms was the norm!!

"Hm? Yu Youwei?"

Just as he was about to stand up, Chu Chen suddenly heard a faint breathing sound approaching from behind the stone door. He spoke up:

"My Secluded Cultivation is over. Come in!"

Hearing that Chu Chen's Secluded Cultivation had ended, Yu Youwei outside finally dared to open the stone door and enter the secret chamber.

Feeling the increasingly powerful aura emanating from Chu Chen, Yu Youwei quickly bowed in salute and spoke respectfully:

"Master, disciples like Zhang San are already waiting outside the hall. Do you wish to..."

Before Yu Youwei could finish her sentence, Chu Chen waved his hand, forcefully interrupting her:

"That matter is not urgent!"

"First, tell me how you knew..."

"...about me possessing a Top Grade full-attribute full Spiritual Root?!"

As he spoke, Chu Chen's eyes locked onto Yu Youwei, refusing to miss the slightest change in her expression.

His gaze was sharp as a hawk and predatory as a wolf.

True Essence was already gathering in his palm. Chu Chen had developed Killing Intent towards Yu Youwei!!

"..."

Before this terrifying Killing Intent, Yu Youwei's small face turned deathly pale, and her petite body trembled uncontrollably from fear.

Thud!

Without a moment's hesitation, Yu Youwei quickly knelt prostrate on the ground:

"Master, calm your anger! Youwei has not deceived Master, nor has she done anything to betray Chaos Peak or betray Master!"

Although their time together had been short, Yu Youwei had already figured out Chu Chen's temperament.

She knew exactly how terrifying the man before her was. One second he could be all smiles like a spring breeze, and the next he might directly pull out a blade and stab her, aiming straight for the vitals.

He acted without regard for consequences.

Fearless of heaven and earth.

He killed disciples of the Divine Flame Emperor Palace without blinking, and castrated disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall without hesitation. For a lowly servant like her, if he wanted to kill her, he wouldn't even bat an eye.

But...

Faced with Chu Chen's death threat, Yu Youwei didn't think of fleeing, nor did she try to defend herself. Instead, after a brief moment of panic, she immediately regained her reason and calm.

"Youwei's life was saved by Master. If not for Master, Youwei would have already died a miserable death."

Yu Youwei knelt upright before Chu Chen, facing death with equanimity, and spoke calmly:

"If Master wishes to take it, you may do so at any time. No reason is needed."

Chu Chen narrowed his eyes, not letting down his guard in the slightest. The True Essence gathering in his palm grew increasingly sharp. With a single palm strike, let alone a mortal like Yu Youwei, even a cultivator of the same Essence Condensation Realm would have their skull shattered, splattering blood on the spot!

"Tell me, how did you know that I possess a Top Grade full-attribute full Spiritual Root!"

The fact that Chu Chen possessed a Top Grade Five-Element Full Spiritual Root was not a secret. After all, the Rootless Awakening Spiritual Pillar on Red King Mountain had been lit, and Chu Chen's name had long resounded throughout the entire Divine Flame Emperor Palace.

However, Chu Chen had never revealed his spiritual power of rare attributes like Wind and Thunder to anyone else. Even during his great battle with the Empress Lin Shuwang three years ago, Chu Chen had not used them.

This secret, known only to the Ye family who had lived with him day and night-how did Yu Youwei know it? Could it be...

Had the Ye family's reach already extended to the Southern Wasteland, to the Divine Flame Emperor Palace, right under the nose of the Empress Lin Shuwang?!

Impossible!

If that group of blockheads in the Ye family had such foresight, why would they have done something as stupid as expelling him from the family!!

"Re... returning to Master, Youwei does not know what a Top Grade full-attribute full Spiritual Root is."

Yu Youwei was slightly stunned. Then, before Chu Chen could speak, she quickly explained:

"Youwei... Youwei only saw within Master's body..."

"...saw six Spiritual Roots. Besides the Five Elements Spiritual Roots of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, there was also one Spiritual Root with extremely mixed attributes."

"At the Spirit Herb Hall and the Spirit Object Pavilion, Youwei... Youwei thought Master would need heavenly and earthly spiritual objects containing spiritual power other than the Five Elements, so she took the liberty of acting on her own. Please punish me, Master!"

After explaining, Yu Youwei knelt on the ground, lowering her little head.

Chu Chen frowned. He had never encountered such a thing before.

Could Yu Youwei's eyes possess some peculiarity? The ability to see what ordinary people could not???

If what Yu Youwei said was true, then this girl's talent...

...was far too terrifying!!

"Lift your head! Look at me!"

Chu Chen spoke coldly, his voice still laced with Killing Intent.

"Yes, Master!"

Yu Youwei did not dare to resist. Trembling, she lifted her head and looked directly at Chu Chen.

Swish!

Their eyes met.

Having just broken through to the Essence Condensation Realm, coupled with possessing the Chaos God Physique and having absorbed the God Phoenix Feather, Chu Chen's sensory acuity far exceeded that of ordinary people.

In Yu Youwei's eyes, Chu Chen seemed to see two dazzling divine lights flickering.

Yu Youwei-there was light in her eyes!

Like flames, burning deep within her pupils.

A flash, then gone.

This flame was very small, very faint, and hidden deep in her pupils. It was fleeting. If one didn't look carefully, they would never notice it.

But it was still caught by Chu Chen, confirming that what Yu Youwei said was not false.

Just what kind of power did these eyes contain?

And what was the origin of this Yu Youwei??