ISWI Chapter 576-578

Chapter 576: He Can Even Kill Mahayana?

Not just Ye Chen—everyone felt the anomaly. The Cave Heaven trembled as twelve shadowy figures, each radiating peak-Unity aura, appeared at the twelve celestial positions. Instantly, they converged at the center, merging into a single illusory shadow. Its presence exuded bloodline suppression, shocking all.

Knowledgeable prodigies gasped, "The Twelve Heavenly Divine Fiends Array—one of the world's top killing formations! With twelve souls of the same realm, it summons a fiend soul one realm higher. Its limit is boundless—even quasi-immortal fiends can be summoned. This fiend's combat power rivals top prodigies. This shadow could slaughter everyone here alone. Who set this array? Is the longevity medicine a trap?"

Prodigies, no fools, grew uneasy, suspecting a plot. A Mahayana fiend with top-prodigy prowess was despair-inducing, far beyond prior realms.

Alkaid fled in panic. The fiend shadow descended, casually targeting Ye Chen. A Mahayana's casual strike could erase millions—terrifying. All believed Ye Chen, however strong, was doomed. Some rejoiced, others lamented.

Yan Qingcheng, eyes blazing with battle intent, prepared to unleash her Chaos Body. She'd planned to repay Ye Chen with the longevity medicine, but he didn't need it. Now, an opportunity arose—she'd fight to test her limits. But her emerging chaos qi retracted. At the battlefield's center, before the fiend's attack landed, Ye Chen's aura surged again. Instead of dodging or defending, he charged the Mahayana fiend head-on.

Their clash unleashed blinding divine light, a pure land forming, obscuring the battlefield from sight and probes. Terrifying fluctuations shook hearts. Most shocking was Ye Chen's further-rising aura. He still had reserves? Too monstrous.

Ba Wang and others were stunned, despairing—utterly unbeatable. Yet, they trusted the Mahayana fiend's power. No matter how heaven-defying a Unity cultivator, defeat was certain.

Relieved Ye Chen would fall, they warily eyed each other. The array wasn't natural—someone aimed to wipe them all out. Ba Wang hastened his flesh regeneration. Alkaid, hiding afar, looked shocked yet relieved, speeding his recovery. The Cave Heaven fell silent, awaiting Ye Chen's demise.

Yan Qingcheng watched closely. Her Chaos Body's divine perception faintly sensed the events within the pure land. Ready to save Ye Chen, she soon fell silent. He didn't need her help. More shockingly, even she might not be his match. This left Yan Qingcheng, who felt guilty and wanted to repay him while secretly holding herself above, bewildered.

Boom…

Roars echoed in the pure land. After a hundred breaths, a deafening blast silenced all. The pure land vanished, and all looked skyward, expecting Ye Chen's fall. But as the divine light faded, a figure in a yin-yang fish robe with golden threads descended.

Eyes widened—Ye Chen survived a Mahayana fiend? Impossible! Did he possess Mahayana-level combat power? All fight drained from the crowd; none pondered the array's origin. Ye Chen filled their vision.

He calmly glanced at the Cave Heaven's edge. Alkaid, half his body illusory, was fleeing. He'd sensed Ye Chen's victory over the fiend and started escaping early. Killing intent flashed in Ye Chen's eyes. He'd planned to use the Fusang Divine Tree against the fiend, but since it couldn't enter his small world, he fought it directly. Despite its prodigy-level Mahayana power, it lacked a true cultivator's endless vitality and versatility, relying solely on the array. In a hundred breaths, Ye Chen shattered it.

Seeing Alkaid flee, Ye Chen unleashed immortal light from his chest. A terrifying Hand of Heaven, blazing with tribulation light, shot out. Alkaid's face twisted, speeding up, but the Hand was too fast, obliterating half his body.

Ye Chen frowned—Alkaid's early escape let part of him survive. No matter. Confirming Alkaid as the Indestructible Heavenly Art's heir, others might fear his devouring potential, but Ye Chen didn't—a mere acquired Chaos Body was no threat. Next time, he'd kill him instantly.

Turning to Ba Wang and Yao Yuekong, Ye Chen saw their despair. Having witnessed him defeat a Mahayana fiend, their fighting spirit collapsed. Top prodigies aimed for immortality with invincible wills, but Ye Chen's strength made it a pipe dream.

Ye Chen didn't bother speaking. His Primordial Supreme Heart surged, divine light flashing from his chest. The Hand of Heaven, like divine punishment, struck. Despite their resistance, when Ye Chen chose to end the fight, it ended.

Chapter 577: You Know My Identity?

With his strength partially exposed, Ye Chen prepared to end the battle and shower the 4,000x Lan Nuo and 7,000x Yan Qingcheng with gifts. The Cave Heaven's initial restrictions were odd, alarming external protectors. The earlier commotion had drawn their attention, and great powers probed inside.

As Ye Chen moved to crush Ba Wang and Yao Yuekong, the Cave Heaven's sky cracked. Two giant hands descended, snatching them away.

"This generation's Heavenly Emperor heir is astounding!"

"Indeed, peerless in his era—perhaps the immortal path needs no contest."

Two aged voices echoed.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow but didn't act—these weren't ordinary Mahayana, at least Third Heaven. If they were mortal enemies, he'd be furious, but mere ants? If they escaped now, he'd crush them later. No regrets. He watched them go.

Soon, more hands retrieved the Solar Body, Feathered Divine Body, and others. Ye Chen, indifferent, let them leave, noting their awe and despair—while he lived, their immortal hopes were dead.

In a blink, most prodigies were gone. The Star River King Body's protector glared, furious. Why only their divine son died? Was Ye Chen picking on the weak, targeting their clan? If not for Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's watchful powerhouses, he'd confront Ye Chen. Glaring, he left, pondering how to report the need for yet another divine son.

…

A hand reached for Lan Nuo, but she waved it off. "Ancestor, I'm not leaving yet! They lost, but my Heavy Pupil hasn't!"

Her ancestor was stunned. Ye Chen's dominance—defeating a Mahayana fiend—was unearthly, even making some suspect he was the Heavenly Emperor reincarnated. Yet she stayed, claiming others lost, not her?

His mouth twitched, but he didn't force her away. Let her face reality—a beating might curb her arrogance. With him present, Ye Chen couldn't kill her. The ancestor stayed silent.

The remaining prodigies were shocked. Ye Chen slew a Mahayana fiend, his power beyond limits, yet Lan Nuo stayed? She wasn't foolish—did she have a trump card? Despite Ye Chen's invincibility, did she still dare fight? Eyes lit up with anticipation. Ye Chen, intrigued, found her courage amusing.

Ye Chen ignored Lan Nuo for now, flying toward Yan Qingcheng, who'd aided him. Before the unremarkable figure, he sensed no trace of disguise—without the system, he'd never guess she was the Chaos Body.

"Thanks for the help, friend!" Ye Chen smiled.

Yan Qingcheng glanced at him, shaking her head calmly. "Even without me, they couldn't threaten you. No need for thanks."

Ye Chen shook his head. "Help is help, regardless of my strength. It's about what you did. Are you here for the longevity medicine?"

Yan Qingcheng raised an eyebrow. Was he implying, due to her trivial aid, he'd give her the medicine? Such gratitude?

This stirred complex emotions in her. If Ye Chen were vile, letting him take the fall as a fake Heavenly Emperor heir would've been easy. But his pure kindness made her feel uneasy.

"No need. I have no elders needing it—just here for the spectacle," she said, preparing to leave, unsettled by guilt and awkwardness.

Ye Chen felt a twinge of disappointment—she didn't need the medicine. But a 7,000x multiplier was too rare to waste. Noting her fist practice, likely new to the Heavenly Emperor Fist, he decided the fist's insight imprint from the Emperor was perfect.

As she turned to go, he raised a hand, sending an imprint before her. Smiling, he said, "Since you don't need the medicine, take this as thanks for your help."

Yan Qingcheng froze. As the true heir, with the Heavenly Emperor Hall's treasury at her disposal, she lacked nothing. She'd already wronged Ye Chen—not her intent, but her father's doing, sparked by her. She hadn't made amends, yet he offered a gift?

The glowing imprint felt familiar, prompting her to touch it. Instantly, endless Heavenly Emperor Fist insights flooded her mind, clarifying murky points and deepening her grasp of its reincarnation intent.

Eyes widening, she stared at Ye Chen in disbelief. How did he have these insights? Why give them to her? How did he know she was practicing the fist? Did he know her identity? If so, why gift her instead of cursing her?

Confused, she transmitted, "You… know who I am?"

Ye Chen, expecting this, nodded lightly. "During my Unity tribulation, I met the Heavenly Emperor's imprint. He revealed I'm not the true heir, lacking core legacies. I realized I'm a decoy. Today, sensing familiar traces in you, despite your concealed fist technique, I recognized the Emperor's shadow. You're the true heir."

Chapter 578: I Owe You!

Yan Qingcheng's eyes widened at Ye Chen's words. He met the Heavenly Emperor's imprint during his tribulation? She'd never encountered it herself, but given Ye Chen's displayed prowess, it was plausible.

What shocked her was Ye Chen knowing her identity yet harboring no resentment, even offering the longevity medicine and Heavenly Emperor Fist imprint. How could someone repay malice with kindness?

"You… don't blame me?" she transmitted. "The Heavenly Emperor heir title was forced on you by the Heavenly Emperor Hall, drawing so much attention and hostility."

Ye Chen's eyes dimmed briefly. "Honestly, I was angry and hurt at first," he transmitted. "The title's benefits are immense—even I'm not immune to its allure. Believing it true, only to have that hope shattered, was painful. But I realized, perhaps I owe you. I've gained so many of the Emperor's relics and legacies by chance. Bearing the pressure as his false heir might be my fate. Why blame you? I feel I owe you. Without me, you might've claimed those legacies yourself. I may have stolen your opportunities."

Yan Qingcheng's eyes grew wider. She never imagined the falsely crowned heir would feel no grudge, but guilt toward her. Absurd. She knew the Heavenly Emperor Hall's ways. Since an ancestor forced their son as heir, every subsequent heir was either a Yan or their son-in-law. Ye Chen hadn't stolen her opportunities—the Yan family had taken his.

"You…" Words failed her, guilt and indebtedness overwhelming, nearly spilling out.

"You don't owe me. Keep the Heavenly Emperor Fist insights," she said. "Its Six Paths Reincarnation Intent is vital for post-Mahayana cultivation."

Ye Chen smiled. "It's useless to me—I don't know the fist. It's best for you, the true heir. I don't know why you hide, but you must have reasons. Keep hiding; I'll bear the heir title and ensure no one suspects you."

Her heart ached. Because of her, the world saw Ye Chen as the heir, yet he lacked the Emperor's famed fist.

"I'll teach you the Heavenly Emperor Fist," she transmitted.

Ye Chen turned away. "That's yours. I've taken enough of your opportunities—I won't take the fist."

Yan Qingcheng fell silent, staring at him, as if memorizing his face. After a long pause, she said, "Thank you, Friend Ye. I'll repay you someday!"

Ye Chen waved, about to speak, but she vanished from the Cave Heaven. He raised an eyebrow, unsure what her "repayment" meant. But he was certain this true heir was a woman of gratitude. Women might deceive his senses, but not the system.

Ye Chen's mind buzzed with system prompts.

"Congratulations, host, gift successful…"

"Gift: Heavenly Emperor Fist Insight Imprint."

"7,000x feedback processing…"

"Detected: Gift is highly significant to the recipient."

"Triggered maximum critical hit rewards…"

"Reward: Complete Heavenly Emperor Scripture…"

"Reward: Heavenly Emperor's full insights on the Scripture…"

"Reward: Complete Heavenly Emperor Fist…"

"Reward: Heavenly Emperor's full insights on the Fist…"

"Reward: Overlord Fist…"

"Reward: Insights of Overlord Fist..."

"Reward: Heavenly Emperor Finger…"

"Reward: Insights of Heavenly Emperor Finger..."

"Reward: Eight Steps to Dao Extinction Supreme Divine Art…"

"Reward: Insights of Eight Steps to Dao Extinction Supreme Divine Art…"

The relentless cascade of rewards stunned Ye Chen. He knew 7,000x was absurd, and a critical hit would be more so, but this was beyond imagination. A single fist insight imprint yielded the entire Heavenly Emperor Scripture. Renowned, especially its Mahayana chapter, it was hailed as the ultimate scripture, blending myriad strengths with the Emperor's invincible will. Ye Chen had planned to seek it at Mahayana—now, he had it, with insights.

The Heavenly Emperor Fist, the cultivation world's top fist art, followed: one punch like the Emperor's descent, its imperial might suppressing the irreverent, limiting foes to 70% strength. Other Emperor techniques, like the Overlord Fist—born from slaying countless Overlord Bodies—and the Eight Steps to Dao Extinction, a supreme art, came too, all with insights for instant mastery.

These would boost Ye Chen's combat power further. More crucially, deeper foundations now would make his future Dao terrifying at Mahayana. This haul was colossal.

Gazing where Yan Qingcheng vanished, Ye Chen's eyes brimmed with reluctance. High multipliers were too potent. He regretted not asking her to take him to the Heavenly Emperor Hall—staying by her side would've been a rocket to ascension. Not knowing when he'd see her again, he felt a pang of loss.

…

Outside, Yan Qingcheng glanced back with a divine art, catching Ye Chen's wistful look. Her gaze grew even more complex.