ISWI Chapter 730-731

Chapter 730: The Nine Transformations Heavenly Furnace!

"One family doesn't speak of two families' affairs—no need to overthink it. Yuezhi's immortal path is what matters most."

Ye Chen noticed Yao Yuekong on the verge of saying more. He clapped the man on the shoulder right then.

Yao Yuekong looked at Ye Chen with boundless gratitude. By now, the pair drew ever closer to the Divine Silkworm Clan's outpost.

Yao Yuekong recalled something and remarked with a sigh, "The Qiankun Cauldron's effects are astonishing, no doubt. But what the Divine Silkworm Clan was truly famed for was an immortal artifact they once held—the Nine Transformations Heavenly Furnace!

"After the Divine Silkworm Emperor ascended and completed his ninth metamorphosis, he forged this immortal tool from his shed immortal body as raw material. Though it didn't shine in raw destructive power, it possessed the ability to enhance aptitudes and raise breakthrough ceilings.

"Long-term cultivation within could subtly boost one's innate talents, physique, fleshly body, and more—much like the effects of the Nine Transformations of the Divine Silkworm. And if one broke through realms inside the furnace, success would yield even fiercer gains. For instance, a normal breakthrough might double one's combat strength; within the furnace, it could reach one-point-two times that...

"For the Divine Silkworm Clan themselves, it amplified the transformation effects and success rates of their Nine Transformations even further! One could say the Divine Silkworm Emperor's era marked the clan's most radiant peak. With this furnace, powerhouses swarmed like carp in a stream, prodigies numbered beyond count—they could even clash head-on with the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan! But once the Heavenly Emperor rose..."

Yao Yuekong trailed off with a heavy sigh. Ye Chen listened to the furnace's capabilities and felt a stir of interest. Enhancing aptitudes? Boosting post-breakthrough gains? Such functions absolutely qualified it as a divine artifact.

Aptitude boosts might prove tricky—after all, his own physique already led the pack by a wide margin. Other facets neared their pinnacles, too. A single immortal artifact? Ye Chen doubted it could carry him to new heights.

But elevating combat ceilings after breakthroughs? That sparked real anticipation. Others gained a mere doubling upon advancement. One-point-two times? Already a solid edge. And if every breakthrough stacked such bonuses? Over the long haul, the compounded growth would terrify.

Most crucially, thanks to his cultivation methods, physique, divine abilities, and myriad other factors, his own realm ascensions already delivered absurdly massive leaps. Layer the Nine Transformations Heavenly Furnace atop that? The rest of the cultivation world's prodigies might as well pack it in.

Upon hearing Yao Yuekong's final words, Ye Chen asked curiously, "Did the Heavenly Emperor smash it again?"

Yao Yuekong shook his head at that. "Not this time. The Heavenly Emperor's era brimmed with chaos, after all—partly due to the Emperor himself, partly from the rise of human forces, and partly from descending immortal realm powers, not to mention the myriad races' own feuds. Back then, the Victorious Fighting Ape Clan held strong too. The two clans, bound by ancient grudges, unleashed their true immortals in open war.

"That Divine Silkworm Clan's true immortal wasn't weak either. In the end, it seemed they perished together with their foe, and the Nine Transformations Heavenly Furnace vanished without a trace—rumored to have self-detonated at last. From that point, the Divine Silkworm Clan lost the furnace and gradually declined. Were it not for their remaining immortal artifact anchoring the clan, they might not have clung to great clan status even now."

Yao Yuekong spoke with a sigh.

This time, Ye Chen truly felt his interest piqued. If handing over the Qiankun Cauldron could yield the Nine Transformations Heavenly Furnace, it would be an absolute windfall. Not just for him to use. His female cultivators could benefit too, vastly enhancing their aptitudes. Take Lu Jing, for instance—she could be tossed into the Heavenly Furnace for a good refining.

"Sigh, maybe we should just skip it. Even offering the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod, they might not bite. Besides, even if my sister got the Qiankun Cauldron and rebuilt her cave heaven, her path ahead would still feel constrained."

They reached the gates of the Divine Silkworm Clan's outpost. For all those reasons, Yao Yuekong still wanted to back out. But Ye Chen's expression hardened with resolve. "No, this Qiankun Cauldron—I must have it."

Yao Yuekong gazed at Ye Chen's earnest demeanor. His heart swelled with even deeper emotion. This brother-in-law truly loved his sister. From here on, even if Ye Chen snuck off in the myriad races to rendezvous with other female cultivators, he'd keep it hushed, cover for him, and ensure his sister never caught wind.

...

Yao Yuekong still carried some renown and face among the myriad races. Coupled with Ye Chen's presence, their visit announcement soon granted them entry to the welcoming hall. They didn't wait long before a middle-aged man in a nine-colored robe approached with evident curiosity.

The man stood at the Third Heaven and served as the Divine Silkworm Clan's patriarch. His status roughly mirrored a holy land's holy master—mostly a figurehead for handling affairs. The real heavyweights lurked among the clan elders and ancestors behind the scenes.

"Yao Yuekong's here, along with the Heavenly Emperor's heir. What brings you two to our doorstep?"

The Divine Silkworm patriarch's tone toward them hovered neutral, cutting straight to the point. His clan bore no deep grudge against the Heavenly Emperor.

Sure, a few of their prodigies had fallen to the Emperor's hand. But back then, the Heavenly Emperor had been universally reviled, like a walking taunt physique—everyone who crossed paths wanted a piece of him. Offending him had felt par for the course.

So, compared to those clans later purged and exterminated in the Emperor's reckonings, the Divine Silkworm Clan's minor scrapes amounted to nothing. Yet with no major enmity, the patriarch extended no special warmth to Ye Chen as the heir. Especially since Ye Chen had stirred trouble with the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan—best to steer clear.

Ye Chen noted the man's cool detachment and saw no point in small talk; he cut straight to the chase. "I'm interested in your clan's Qiankun Cauldron. I wonder, at what price would your clan be willing to part with it?"

At Ye Chen's words, the patriarch rose to his feet at once.

"The Qiankun Cauldron is not for sale—it's a clan heirloom. If that's all the Heavenly Emperor's heir has come for, please see yourselves out!"

Inwardly, he sneered all the while. This was the Divine Silkworm Clan's signature treasure, after all. How could they possibly sell it to an outsider? So, he issued his dismissal with swift finality.

Yao Yuekong let out a sigh. But then Ye Chen's lips curved into a light chuckle as he spoke. "What if I offer three high-grade Extreme Dao Weapons of equivalent quality in exchange?"

Three high-grade Extreme Dao Weapons? This Heavenly Emperor's heir truly brimmed with wealth, and his bid carried real sincerity—not some jest to poke fun. Still, a no meant a no. So the patriarch shook his head firmly. "The Qiankun Cauldron holds special meaning to our clan; it's simply not for sale!"

"Five high-grade Extreme Dao Weapons for the Qiankun Cauldron!"

Ye Chen upped the ante without missing a beat. A flicker of surprise crossed the patriarch's eyes.

Five high-grade Extreme Dao Weapons? Securing those could markedly bolster his clan's upper echelons in battle. Yet in the end, the patriarch shook his head once more, his tone softening just a touch with courtesy. "It has nothing to do with how much Fellow Daoist Ye offers. The point is, our clan could never sell the Qiankun Cauldron!"

Ye Chen pressed on without the slightest hesitation. "Eight high-grade Extreme Dao Weapons!"

At that, the patriarch's eyes couldn't help but gleam. But he clenched his jaw and shook his head again. The Qiankun Cauldron's significance ran deep. It had been forged by their ancestral Divine Silkworm Emperor himself—hardly a supreme Extreme Dao Weapon, yet a sacred relic all the same.

So the patriarch refused once more. "I feel your sincerity, Fellow Daoist! But this truly won't do—it's a creation of our clan's founding ancestor, something no mere price can measure!"

Chapter 731: The Heavenly Emperor's Successor Takes a Huge Loss!

"Fellow Daoist, this truly won't work!"

"Fellow Daoist, it's not about the price at all!"

"Friend, the Qiankun Cauldron holds special value to our clan."

"It was forged from creation spirit liquid—unique throughout the entire cultivation world!"

"Our ancestor, the Divine Silkworm Emperor, crafted it with his own hands."

"This, this... sigh. Brother Ye, it seems you truly desire the Qiankun Cauldron, but I alone can't make the call. Like this: I'll go consult our ancestor on your behalf..."

The Divine Silkworm Clan's patriarch had never once entertained selling the Qiankun Cauldron at the outset. After all, it stood as a relic left by their ancestor.

Moreover, it could mend shattered cave heavens, drawing occasional cultivators whose domains had suffered damage; they paid hefty resources for repairs. That made it a steady, long-term revenue stream. But Ye Chen's bids had stunned him—both in their extravagance and the heir's evident wealth.

High-grade Extreme Dao Weapons carried immense value, too. Even their Divine Silkworm Clan, after all these years, possessed scarcely more than a dozen. And Ye Chen? Under the patriarch's deliberate probing, he had escalated all the way to an offer of twenty high-grade Extreme Dao Weapons. What did that signify?

In terms of raw worth, it nearly rivaled the clan's own treasury. From then on, every slightly stronger elder could wield one. The boost to their collective combat strength would prove monumental.

Yet by now, Ye Chen's face betrayed real pain, his increments lacking their earlier conviction. The patriarch knew they had reached the limit. Any further pressure, and Ye Chen could scarcely up the ante. In any case, he felt genuinely tempted.

After all, few in his clan suffered cave heaven damage anymore, and alternatives existed for mending them beyond the Qiankun Cauldron. Though a high-grade Extreme Dao Weapon, it didn't excel in battle anyway. Exchanging it for twenty of equal grade? That would catapult the Divine Silkworm Clan's power skyward.

All told, the patriarch's heart truly stirred this time. But he revealed nothing, instead bidding Ye Chen and his companion to wait while he sought the ancestor's counsel.

...

Once the Divine Silkworm patriarch departed, Yao Yuekong gazed at Ye Chen with a tangle of emotions. He felt surprise—though not utter shock—at Ye Chen's hoard of Extreme Dao Weapons.

After all, Ye Chen had claimed the Heavenly Emperor's treasury. The Emperor had wrought endless havoc back then, slaying without mercy and amassing such arms in abundance; it stood to reason. What moved Yao Yuekong more was Ye Chen's sacrifice. He truly cherished his sister that deeply.

The patriarch harbored the same thoughts. Even as he inwardly cursed the Heavenly Emperor for his past villainy and hoarding such treasures, he contacted the ancestor. Upon meeting the elder, he swiftly reported the Heavenly Emperor's heir's bid for the Qiankun Cauldron.

"Twenty high-grade Extreme Dao Weapons? That's quite the offer! After all, the cultivation world edges ever closer to decline. Once this Immortal Path concludes, we'll enter the Age of Dharma's End. By then, cultivation will grow ever harder, resources ever scarcer—the entire world will descend into chaos, flames of war everywhere.

"Stockpiling a massive hoard of high-grade Extreme Dao Weapons would benefit our clan immensely. Many races hoard spirit stones, treasures—we'll hoard Extreme Dao Weapons. When the time comes, we'll just raid them outright!

"The Qiankun Cauldron may be an ancestral relic, but our ancestor would surely prefer to see our Divine Silkworm Clan thrive and endure the full span of the Dharma's End. So, we can greenlight this deal."

The ancestor gave his approval. A smile crept across the patriarch's face. But the ancestor continued, "These terms aren't quite enough, though. I've observed that the Heavenly Emperor's heir isn't a fool. He must have a special need for the Qiankun Cauldron to bid so extravagantly.

"For an ordinary shattered cave heaven, borrowing it for repairs would suffice—yet he insists on outright purchase. Given his past actions, it's likely one of his women whose cave heaven core has met with disaster, requiring the cauldron as a full replacement. So, drive a harder bargain—throw in that Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod! Once the Dharma's End arrives, we'll charge straight at those monkeys with it in hand...

"Those filthy apes cost our clan the Nine Transformations Heavenly Furnace. Without that loss, every one of us could have soared like dragons—at minimum, reaching the sixth transformation. We'd have claimed the throne as the foremost among myriad races long ago. Damn them—truly damn them all!"

The mention of the Victorious Fighting Ape Clan stirred particular loathing in the patriarch. Yet he worried that upping the price might scare Ye Chen off. After all, it was a supreme Extreme Dao Weapon.

The ancestor chuckled. "Unless my read is off, that Heavenly Emperor's heir—however displeased—will surely acquiesce. He truly cares for his women, after all. The Heavenly Emperor was no saint himself. This time, I'll make his descendant bleed a little."

The patriarch received his orders and departed at once.

...

"What? The Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod? I'm only trading for a high-grade Extreme Dao Weapon here—offering twenty of equal grade is already an astronomical sum. But a supreme Extreme Dao Weapon? Its value is incalculable—likely worth far more than a hundred high-grade ones combined. This is blatant extortion, and I must decline! Let's call this off, then!"

Ye Chen had anticipated the patriarch's return with a counteroffer—no one played the fool in these games.

Yao Yuekong watched from the side, so Ye Chen rose and paced a few steps, feigning outrage!

The slower Ye Chen's strides, the more the patriarch marveled at the old adage: the ginger grows spicier with age. The ancestor's insight proved razor-sharp; he had pierced straight to Ye Chen's unyielding resolve.

"Fellow Daoist, you wouldn't want one of your cherished beauties to suffer a shattered cave heaven core, her immortal path severed forever, would you?"

The patriarch drawled leisurely.

Ye Chen sneered inwardly, though his face betrayed shock—pupils contracting in feigned alarm.

The patriarch said nothing, merely offering a faint smile.

Ye Chen's features twisted in reluctance, but he soon sighed and halted his steps.

Yao Yuekong, a burly giant of a man with broad shoulders and a rugged frame, watched the scene unfold with reddening eyes. His brother-in-law had truly sacrificed far too much!

Seeing Ye Chen yield in the negotiation, the patriarch brimmed with ecstatic joy.

Ye Chen still held the Heavenly Emperor Sword, another supreme Extreme Dao Weapon.

But as the patriarch opened his mouth to press further—managing only a single word—he sensed the killing intent surging from Ye Chen's body. It chilled him to the bone in an instant. He understood then: any more greed, and the deal would shatter irreparably.

Not only would he lose the supreme Extreme Dao Weapon and those twenty high-grade ones, but the clan would forge an eternal enmity with Ye Chen. By then, every clansman in the Third or Fourth Heaven might fall to his blade. After all, this man before him had just conned and slain three peak Half-Saints from the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan.

At that very moment, the ancestor's voice echoed in the patriarch's mind: "Don't get greedy. Securing the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod is plenty."

The patriarch nodded hastily. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a pale blue miniature cauldron, extraordinarily translucent, as if carved from divine jade. The moment the small cauldron appeared, a peculiar aura wafted through the hall.

Yao Yuekong's face lit up with unrestrained delight at once. The Qiankun Cauldron—they had truly obtained it.

On Ye Chen's side, he flicked his wrist, and twenty-one streaks of light burst from his cave heaven. Twenty high-grade Extreme Dao Weapons in full, plus one supreme. Their mingled killing auras pressed down heavily, filling the room with immense pressure on everyone present. An ordinary cultivator might go a lifetime without witnessing so many Extreme Dao Weapons gathered together. The sheer spectacle proved utterly breathtaking.

Deep within clan territory, the patriarch feared no backlash; he handed over the Qiankun Cauldron first.

Ye Chen caught it with a sweeping grasp and refined it via the Armament Secret, claiming ownership in a heartbeat. Once he confirmed all was in order, he turned with a darkened expression and stormed out.

The patriarch grinned ear to ear. "Fellow Daoist Ye, you're always welcome to visit again."

This round, he'd thoroughly fleeced the Heavenly Emperor's heir—the man had taken a massive bath. Meanwhile, the Divine Silkworm Clan's strength had surged dramatically. What a bloody windfall.

As Ye Chen strode toward the exit, though, the corners of his mouth soon curled upward in a grin of equal satisfaction. With the Qiankun Cauldron secured, it equated to at least one immortal artifact in the bag! It might even be the Divine Silkworm Clan's famed Nine Transformations Heavenly Furnace. This deal was the real bloody jackpot!