I and countless versions of myself simultaneously travel through time.

A day later, the cave was filled with the fragrance of elixirs, and jade bottles were scattered all over the ground.

Ye Yan sat cross-legged on the stone platform, his fighting spirit surging like a tide. In front of him were jade bottles piled high with Breakthrough Pills, a full hundred sixth-grade Breakthrough Pills, which he devoured like candy beans.

If outside alchemists saw this scene, they would probably faint on the spot from heartache.

A sixth-grade Breakthrough Pill would be a top-tier treasure in any auction house in the Jia Ma Empire; even an ordinary Dou Huang expert might not be able to obtain one even if they sold their entire fortune.

Ye Yan kowtowed over a hundred times in one go.

This is the advantage of alchemists.

What others desperately seek as elixirs is merely a matter of materials and time for him.

He absorbed all of the insights and experience of the old alchemist, who was an eighth-grade alchemist. Coupled with his own talent, his alchemy skills were improving at a visible speed. He was already very close to becoming a seventh-grade alchemist, just one step away from the final goal.

"How is it? Is it done?" Yun Yun lifted the barrier around the cave and slowly walked in.

She looked at the almost tangible battle aura emanating from Ye Yan, a complex light flashing in her beautiful eyes.

The man who was a Dou Zong at the peak of the ninth level yesterday has broken through three levels in one day and is now stuck at the threshold of Dou Zun.

Such a rapid pace of breakthrough would be astonishing in any era.

"My understanding of the laws of space is not deep enough; I'm still lacking something." Ye Yan opened his eyes and sighed. The difference between a Dou Zong and a Dou Zun is not the amount of Dou Qi, but the understanding of the laws of space.

Quantitative changes can be accumulated with elixirs, but qualitative changes require time to mature.

"It's alright, I can cultivate with you." Yun Yun walked up to Ye Yan with a serious expression and a firm gaze. "Senior brother, I'll help you."

Looking at her resolute expression, Ye Yan couldn't help but chuckle: "You sound like you're about to go to war."

"Stop talking nonsense." Yun Yun turned her head away, her ears turning slightly red.

Outside the cave, the wind howled through the Monster Mountain Range.

Inside the cave, two figures intertwined in the dim light of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, their fighting spirits merging and their souls resonating.

Yun Yun passed on her understanding of the laws of space to Ye Yan without reservation, while Ye Yan used the powerful Dou Qi of a peak nine-star Dou Zong to nourish her meridians.

A day and a night later.

The cave's protective barrier was activated once more, and two figures walked out side by side.

Ye Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering even without wind.

He took a step, and visible ripples spread across the void beneath his feet, as if the entire world was making way for him.

At the first level of Dou Zun, the barrier that had troubled countless Dou Zong powerhouses was as fragile as a thin sheet of paper in front of him.

Yun Yun followed closely behind, her fighting spirit becoming much more solid, and she steadily stopped at the first star of Dou Zong.

The dual cultivation not only brought Ye Yan a breakthrough, but she also benefited greatly.

"From this day forward, the Monster Mountain Range will be the Ye Alliance's backyard." Ye Yan gazed at the rolling mountains, his tone as calm as if he were remarking on the pleasant weather. "The Gama Empire, the Chuyun Empire, the Luoyan Empire, the Mulan Empire—all the powers in the northwest corner of this continent should be unified. Let's go."

Two figures rose into the air and headed straight for the depths of the Monster Mountain Range.

Inside the cave of the Purple-Gold Winged Lion King, the fifth-tier magical beast that had been entrenched there for many years had already sensed Ye Yan's terrifying aura.

When Ye Yan and Yun Yun landed at the entrance of the cave, the massive body of the Purple-Gold Winged Lion King lay prostrate on the ground, its head bowed, not daring to even breathe.

"I have long observed that my master possesses the bearing of a Dou Di, with an imposing presence, truly deserving of the Mandate of Heaven!" The Purple-Gold Winged Lion King's voice trembled. "How dare I, a mere fifth-tier magical beast, compare myself to Lord Ye? Please, Lord Ye, have mercy and allow our entire family to serve as your guardians, to serve you like slaves, even unto death!"

Yun Yun's lips twitched slightly. This magical beast was far better at flattery than it was at strength.

"Indeed, a wise person knows when to yield." Ye Yan smiled slightly, then changed the subject, "However, it requires a bit of tactical maneuvering."

He stretched out his hand, his fingertips radiating an eerie black soul energy. The memories of Protector Wu surged in his mind, including a set of evil cultivation soul techniques from the Soul Palace, the Slave Seed Seal.

Once this method is planted, the life and death of the controlled person are entirely in the master's hands, and the mark of submission is forever etched deep in their soul.

The black soul energy entered the brow of the Purple-Gold Winged Lion King, and the enormous creature trembled. The last trace of struggle in its eyes quickly dissipated, replaced by pure awe and loyalty.

"Master." The Purple-Gold Winged Lion King prostrated himself even lower.

Yun Yun glanced at Ye Yan but didn't say anything.

She knew that her senior brother was preparing for the expansion of the Ye Alliance.

Unifying the Northwest continent requires more than just kindness and righteousness; it also requires iron-fisted measures.

After dealing with the Purple-Gold Winged Lion King, Ye Yan and Yun Yun took to the air and flew towards Qingshan Town.

Qingshan Town, a small town on the border of the Jiama Empire, is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, peaceful and serene.

Ye Yan landed on a hillside outside the town, his gaze fixed on the white figure carrying a medicine basket in the distance.

Little Fairy Doctor was squatting by the roadside picking herbs. She wore a white dress, her long hair was casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, and her pretty face still had a touch of girlish innocence.

She sensed someone approaching, looked up, and saw two figures standing in mid-air. Her pupils contracted sharply. Walking on air, they were Dou Zong powerhouses!

"So, I have the potential to become a Dou Zong, so you want me to join the Yunlan Sect?" Little Fairy Doctor looked puzzled after hearing Ye Yan's words.

She was just a doctor in a small town. Although she had some fortuitous encounters, her cultivation level was only at the Great Dou Master level.

Dou Zong?

That was too far away from her.

"Not bad." Ye Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his tone indifferent. "Your physique is the Calamity Poison Physique, you just don't know it yourself. Once this physique awakens, your strength will skyrocket, and with complete control, it's not impossible to instantly break through to the seventh star of Dou Zun. I wouldn't lie to a little girl like you. Moreover, there's an ancient tomb nearby that happens to contain the method for controlling and cultivating the Calamity Poison Physique, which I'll give to you then."

Little Fairy Doctor was silent for a moment, then raised her head: "Why did you come to me? You are a powerful Dou Zong expert and the sect master of Yunlan Sect, why would you personally come to recruit a small-town doctor like me?"

"Because you're strong, that's all." Ye Yan looked directly into her eyes, his tone flat. "It makes it easier to strengthen my Ye Alliance. If you didn't have the Calamity Poison Body, why would I seek you out? For your looks?"

He shook his head and chuckled, his tone tinged with self-deprecation.

Little Fairy Doctor was slightly taken aback, then awkwardly looked away.

She was indeed somewhat wary, thinking that this Dou Zong expert had some improper thoughts about her.

Although Ye Yan's words were direct and somewhat ruthless, they actually made her lower her guard.

That makes sense.

"Okay, I'll go with you." Little Fairy Doctor stood up and dusted off the hem of her skirt.

Ye Yan nodded in satisfaction, turned and left, taking all the treasures in the cave with him as he went, before returning to the Yunlan Sect.

At this moment, the high-ranking officials of all the major forces in the Jia Ma Empire had gathered at the Yunlan Sect. Ye Yan shattered the void, soaring high in the sky, and unleashed his Dou Zun pressure without any concealment.

Those below looked up, their expressions changed drastically, and they were too shocked to speak.

Ye Yan was very satisfied with their reaction. If I don't add any points to Deep Blue, isn't it just showing off in front of others?

Yun Shan looked up, his pupils shrinking sharply: "A Dou Zun?!"

He was shocked. He had exhausted the Yunlan Sect's savings of several decades and only managed to break through to the Dou Zong realm with the help of Ye Yan. He thought he had already entered the ranks of the strong.

But this young man before him had already reached the Dou Zun level in such a short time! Yun Shan smiled bitterly; the gap between them was like an insurmountable chasm.

But then he thought that since he was already a member of the Ye Alliance, and the Yunlan Sect had even more resources, he felt relieved.

"Forget it, I'll just follow Ye Zi and eat the soup," Yunshan thought to himself.

With such talent, who would still cooperate with the Soul Palace?