ISWI Chapter 362-364

Chapter 362: Protecting the Sword Sect's Female Prodigy!

Previously, the Sword Sect had stayed neutral in the conflicts between Holy Lands, observing Ye Chen's battle with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's avatar with detached indifference. They offered a single token word of advice, keeping themselves uninvolved.

But now, things had changed. With Ye Chen's gift of Dugu's wooden sword and his connection to Gu Yunyun, the Sword Sect had forged a deeper bond with Heavenly Evolution Holy Land.

As a faction founded by an immortal, the Sword Sect, despite lacking an immortal artifact, possessed immense heritage. The Heavenly Intention Holy Son couldn't possibly kill Ye Chen here. Thus, staying in the Sword Sect to await the outcome of the impending clash was Ye Chen's best move.

Ye Chen wasn't impatient. Having just acquired the Indestructible Scripture, he could focus on cultivation. After informing the Sword Sect elders, he settled into his master's cave abode.

The sect welcomed him warmly, their attitude effusive. Ye Chen's prodigious talent promised a future where he might vie for a wisp of immortal qi and ascend to True Immortal.

The saying "when one attains the Dao, even their pets ascend" held true, and the Sword Sect was eager to ally with such a prodigy. Despite being an outsider, Ye Chen was granted near-unrestricted access, free to roam anywhere except certain secret realms.

This suited him perfectly. If he was to stay for a while, the freedom to move about the Sword Sect would aid his search for suitable female cultivators to gift, maximizing his system's rewards.

…

After seeing off the courteous elders, Ye Chen sealed the cave and sat cross-legged, diving into cultivation. The Indestructible Scripture's text, bestowed by the system, unfurled in his mind.

"Heaven cannot bury, earth cannot destroy, the body communes with the spirit… Even if the soul perishes, the body remains unyielding, eternal, and indestructible. At its perfection, though the soul scatters, over the passage of time, it may recondense, birthing a new soul… Thus achieving true immortality!"

The scripture's vastness was overwhelming, as if born from the fabric of the cosmos itself. Its mere presence in his mind exerted immense pressure. The intricate patterns within corresponded to the body's hidden mysteries, profound beyond measure.

Ye Chen couldn't help but marvel. Even cultivating immortal scriptures hadn't felt like this. The Indestructible Scripture's rank clearly surpassed them, its complexity daunting even for him.

Yet, the greater the challenge, the richer the reward. Unruffled, Ye Chen steadied his mind and entered deep cultivation. Faint golden light flickered across his body, pulsing with his blood, shimmering in rhythm.

A week later, Ye Chen emerged. Progress on the Indestructible Scripture was slow, but he wasn't deterred. Cultivation could wait—gifting couldn't. He avoided seeking out Lin Qian's junior sister, wary of fueling false rumors that might tarnish his reputation further.

…

Though the Sword Sect couldn't rival a Holy Land, it was still a top-tier sect with plenty of talented female disciples. Ye Chen easily found one with a 300x multiplier and gifted her a spiritual fruit that enhanced physical strength.

Under her ecstatic gaze, he drifted away. The gift triggered a critical hit, and the system rewarded him with ten Golden Body Fruits—rare treasures from a Buddhist Holy Land, reserved for prodigies qualified to cultivate the Indestructible Golden Body.

Such fruits were virtually unseen in the outside world. Ye Chen figured they might accelerate his progress with the Indestructible Scripture and returned to his cave to cultivate.

A week later, he emerged in good spirits. The Golden Body Fruits had slightly boosted his cultivation speed with the Indestructible Scripture—not as effective as he'd hoped, but still useful.

After gifting another 400x female disciple, Ye Chen sought out the Sword Sect's external affairs elder, offering spirit stones to procure top-grade spiritual fruits and pills effective for body refining, ideal for gifting. Though Sword Sect disciples focused on swordsmanship, like most cultivators, they also trained their physiques, so Ye Chen had no concerns about finding recipients.

He also visited the area above Sword Valley. The Indestructible Scripture thrived under external stress to the body, and Sword Valley, transformed by Dugu Bubai's lingering sword intent, brimmed with relentless sword qi daily.

Sword Sect cultivators, trained in the sect's sword arts, had techniques to mitigate the valley's sword qi, but Ye Chen, an outsider, would face its full brunt—exactly what he wanted to test if it could hasten his cultivation.

Spanning thousands of miles, Sword Valley was vast. Ye Chen entered near his master's cave abode. Instantly, the valley's sword qi surged toward him, assaulting his body. Closing his eyes, he circulated the Indestructible Scripture, then opened them, unimpressed. The sword qi at the valley's entrance was too weak to harm him, offering no benefit. He flew deeper.

The lower he descended, the fiercer the sword qi grew. After plunging ten thousand meters, he paused. Here, each strand of sword qi matched a full-strength strike from a Nascent Soul sword cultivator. Without defending, it could slice his skin, leaving faint blood lines.

But before blood could flow, the wounds healed. Ye Chen sat cross-legged in midair, circulating the Indestructible Scripture. Soon, a trace of joy crossed his face—it worked. His cultivation speed had increased. Sword Valley was indeed perfect for refining the Indestructible Scripture.

Another week passed, and Ye Chen emerged from the valley. His tall frame subtly transformed, a faint dark golden sheen shimmering beneath his fair skin, though barely noticeable.

The external affairs elder delivered the body-refining treasures Ye Chen had requested—some from the Sword Sect's treasury to curry favor, others acquired externally, all exceptional for Nascent Soul cultivators.

With treasures in hand, Ye Chen was generous. He didn't bother seeking high-multiplier recipients; anyone around 300x who caught his eye received a gift. After gifting, he flew back to Sword Valley's depths to resume cultivating the Indestructible Scripture. As his progress deepened, so did his descent—ten thousand meters, twenty thousand, thirty thousand…

At thirty thousand meters, the sword qi in Sword Valley grew terrifying, equivalent to a full-strength strike from a Deity Transformation sword cultivator. Such a commotion couldn't escape the Sword Sect's notice. The elders, previously stirred by the wooden sword, watched Ye Chen, seated calmly amidst the onslaught, with astonishment.

The sword intent in the valley wasn't ordinary—it carried traces of Dugu's unparalleled sword will, capable of slicing through nearly anything. Typical defensive spiritual treasures were suppressed here, their efficacy diminished.

Yet the Fourth Holy Son, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, withstood it without raising a defense? When the sword qi struck him, a faint metallic clang echoed, as if striking iron.

Sword qi that could cleave a Nascent Soul in two or gravely wound a Deity Transformation cultivator left only shallow blood lines on Ye Chen's body, which healed almost instantly. His defensive prowess was staggering.

The elders exchanged glances, shaken. They admitted that, in their youth, facing an opponent like Ye Chen would have been hopeless. Their sword techniques would barely scratch him, and any minor injuries would heal in a blink. How could anyone fight that?

"This technique of the Fourth Holy Son hasn't even reached minor completion, yet it's already this terrifying. What kind of body-refining method is this?" one elder mused.

"Could it be the Buddhist Holy Land's Indestructible Golden Body?" another speculated.

"Impossible! How could the Indestructible Golden Body leak outside?" a third countered.

"Why not? I've looked into this Fourth Holy Son. He's a true child of destiny," the first elder insisted. "He wields three of the Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques, and after his battle with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's avatar was recorded, great experts confirmed he likely mastered the complete True Dragon Treasure Technique.

"That's not all—he possesses Black Yellow Primordial Essence, coveted even by Mahayana cultivators and rare among immortals. His cultivation scripture is likely the Great Emperor Scripture, an immortal scripture from the fallen Great Zhou Dynasty, renowned as the pinnacle of offensive power. With such treasures, is it so strange he might have the Indestructible Golden Body?"

The skeptical elder fell silent. If these claims were true, Ye Chen possessing the Buddhist Holy Land's Indestructible Golden Body seemed not just plausible but fitting.

"But why does the Fourth Holy Son keep gifting our sect's female prodigies?" an elder frowned. "And always with precious items."

The others nodded. The topic was widely discussed in the Sword Sect. Ye Chen's generosity was startling—gifting treasures like the Arhat Fruit, worth thirty thousand top-grade spirit stones, without a second thought. It was bafflingly extravagant.

"I've heard about this," the informed elder continued. "The Fourth Holy Son excels in every way, except for an insatiable appetite for female cultivators. Before his rise, he was a minor clan disciple, sent to toil in a market's alchemy shop, barely surviving. Yet he still brought back three maidservants.

"At Green Cloud Sect, he won over his senior sister and formed a bond with his master, Gu Yunyun, our sect leader. Back then, it was just speculation, but after he crossed thousands of miles, killed the Heavenly Intention prodigy, and showed his devotion, their relationship is undeniable.

"Later, as a guest elder at Divine Will Sect, he took their grand elder and her niece to the Holy Land. Even the Great Chu Dynasty's princess resides on his Ascendant Peak. Wherever he goes, he entangles with female cultivators. These gifts to our disciples are likely for the same reason."

The elders' mouths twitched. "No way! Our sect's talent pool is already thin. We can't let him take them all!" one protested.

"For his talent's sake, he can take three at most," another conceded. "But the heavenly spirit root disciples and those with exceptional physiques? No chance. Send the Outer Affairs Peak a mission—dispatch those prodigies on tasks. They don't return until the Fourth Holy Son leaves!"

Chapter 363: Eldest Senior Brother, I'm Moved to Tears!

A prodigy having a few quirks or indulging in some carefree behavior was understandable. The elders reasoned: Your master's away, you're feeling lonely, and you want to spark something with our female disciples? Fine, we won't interfere. If you leave behind a child, the Sword Sect would happily raise it.

But Ye Chen's extravagant gifting was another matter. If he swept away their disciples with his generosity, what would become of the Sword Sect? To protect their future pillars, they had to act fast and send their top talents on missions, ensuring the sect wouldn't be left barren after Ye Chen's departure.

…

Ye Chen, of course, noticed the watchful eyes but paid them no mind, focusing on his cultivation. The Indestructible Scripture's rank was so lofty he wasn't worried about anyone discerning its origins. He found Sword Valley immensely rewarding.

The sword intent didn't just accelerate his progress with the Indestructible Scripture; each time it struck and dissipated, it left behind a strand of pure spiritual energy that he could refine, boosting his cultivation speed dramatically. At this rate, he estimated he'd break through to mid-Nascent Soul in just over half a year—a double blessing. The sensation of his body and cultivation surging together was exhilarating.

…

Another week passed, and Ye Chen emerged from Sword Valley to gift. He no longer needed to seek recipients. Word of the Fourth Holy Son's lavish generosity had spread, and his predictable weekly appearances drew crowds of female disciples to the valley's edge, dressed vibrantly and brimming with anticipation, like contestants in a beauty pageant.

Ye Chen appreciated their enthusiasm but was less pleased with their quality. Scanning the crowd, most hovered around 200x multipliers, with barely any above 300x. What was going on? He'd encountered two 500x disciples before.

Then his eyes lit up. Spotting a mature, striking female Nascent Soul elder, he flew toward her. Her allure was ripe, her figure like a perfectly ripened fruit, exuding fullness. He'd assumed she was married, but the system triggered, revealing a 500x multiplier—on par with Lin Qian's junior sister.

If the disciples' quality was lacking, an elder would do. Ye Chen promptly gifted her a bottle of top-grade pills exclusive to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, suited for Nascent Soul cultivation.

High on Sword Peak, a Supreme Elder sipped tea with Elder Mo, keeping an eye on Sword Valley. He'd been concerned Ye Chen might be displeased by the absence of their top female disciples. But he hadn't expected the Fourth Holy Son to pivot and target an elder instead.

This was outrageous. The Supreme Elder began regretting allowing Ye Chen to stay. Disciples couldn't be poached, and elders certainly couldn't! If Ye Chen carted them off to his "harem peak," how would the Sword Sect survive?

"The Fourth Holy Son truly has an extraordinary presence," the Sword Sect's Supreme Elder muttered, lips twitching.

Elder Mo chuckled, steering away from the topic.

The Supreme Elder shifted his gaze from Ye Chen, sighing with deep emotion. "Heavenly Evolution Holy Son and Heavenly Intention Holy Son have clashed seven times already. One battle reached the depths of the starry sky, leaving every cultivator who witnessed it utterly shocked. If they weren't both at the peak of Deity Transformation, yet to break through, people would suspect they're at the peak of the Unity Realm. The spectacle was immense. Prodigies like them, vying for the immortal path and seizing immortal qi, can drive their peers to despair."

Elder Mo's eyes flickered with nostalgia. Once, he too had been such a prodigy, only to fall to his current state.

The Supreme Elder continued, "The Fourth Holy Son is undoubtedly a top prodigy, but his cultivation is too low. It's uncertain if he can catch up before this era's immortal path opens."

Mo shared this concern. To ascend to immortality, cultivators needed not just mastery of laws but a wisp of immortal qi—the final step to shed mortality.

Since the Jianmu tree's destruction severed the cultivation world's link to the immortal realm, immortal qi grew scarcer, and fewer achieved ascension. Only at the immortal path's end could one claim a wisp of immortal qi, sparking fierce competition among cultivators.

The immortal path's opening was erratic, with intervals growing longer—now five thousand years apart. Many once-invincible prodigies, who dominated their era, withered in wait, never seeing the path open. Worse were those who, aged and weakened, saw it open only to fall to younger rivals or lack the courage to even enter.

Others, peerless in talent but too young and underpowered, could only watch lesser cultivators claim the qi, knowing they'd never live to see the next opening. Ascension demanded both strength and luck.

The Fourth Holy Son, Ye Chen, was too young, trailing most peers by at least one major realm, if not more. As a prodigy, catching up would be no easy feat.

…

In a flash, half a year passed. Ye Chen sat cross-legged in Sword Valley's extreme depths, surrounded by sword qi so terrifying that even peak Deity Transformation cultivators couldn't linger long. A single lapse could annihilate their soul.

Yet Ye Chen sat serenely, his body radiating a dark golden glow like immortal metal. Sword qi capable of slaying Deity Transformation cultivators struck him relentlessly, yet he remained unmoved. Each clash rang like immortal metals colliding. Astonishingly, the sword qi couldn't mar his body—instead, it shattered against him, an unimaginable feat. His aura, like a volcano long simmering, finally erupted.

In that moment, Ye Chen's spiritual power surged within him. Roars of dragons, cries of phoenixes, and shrieks of Kun Peng echoed, shaking the heavens. His body erupted with power, golden qi and blood soaring skyward, parting the endless sword qi above and scattering the azure clouds, piercing into the firmament. The immense spectacle startled the Sword Sect.

Ye Chen opened his eyes, gazing at his body and sensing his cultivation. A smile spread across his face. Today, he had officially entered the Indestructible Scripture, achieving initial mastery. His cultivation had also broken through to mid-Nascent Soul—a double triumph.

The higher one's realm, the greater the leap even a minor boundary brought, especially for a prodigy like Ye Chen. He could feel his spiritual power's depth and overall strength had surged nearly tenfold.

But the most dramatic change was his body. Its defensive power was now unimaginable. If he faced the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's avatar again, even with its formidable offensive Treasure Technique, it couldn't scratch him. He could stand still and let it attack—perhaps it might snap a few hairs at most. And this was merely the entry stage of the Indestructible Scripture. Its potential was staggering.

Flying out of Sword Valley, Ye Chen found Elder Mo waiting, looking at him with astonishment. "You broke through? And that body-refining technique is complete?"

Mo was shocked. Ye Chen had reached Nascent Soul just three years ago, yet he'd already crossed a minor boundary. Astonishing. But what stunned Mo more was Ye Chen's body-refining scripture.

Its mere completion sent blood qi rocketing to the heavens, rivaling top-tier physiques. If Ye Chen continued this trajectory, he might truly contend for immortal qi with this generation's elite prodigies.

Ye Chen nodded, then asked, "How's Eldest Senior Brother doing?"

Absorbed in his power's growth, Ye Chen hadn't paid much attention to Hua Yunfei's clashes with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son over the past half-year. Mo smiled. "In one year, they fought sixteen battles, from the earth's depths to the far reaches of space, neither gaining the upper hand. The Heavenly Intention Holy Son, bent on avenging his brother, refused to relent. Hua Yunfei, though quieter, never yielded an inch. Three days ago, they clashed at Ailao Mountain, leveling the entire range. Still no victor, but the Heavenly Intention Holy Son finally withdrew to Heavenly Intention Holy Land, vowing to emerge only after reaching Unity Realm."

Ye Chen sighed with emotion. His senior brother had fought for a year over his matter. Truly… such a brother brought tears to his eyes. Returning to the Holy Land, he'd thank Hua Yunfei properly. He had a few critical-hit spiritual fruits, extinct since the Immortal Ancient era, that greatly enhanced the body—perfect for his senior brother.

As Ye Chen mused, he sensed something, raising his brow and glancing toward the sect gate. A figure, escorted respectfully by the gate elder, flew toward him. The distinctive halo behind the figure's head, like a small sun, sparked surprise in Ye Chen. Moments later, the figure reached him.

Hua Yunfei's strikingly handsome face broke into a warm, clear smile. "Little Junior Brother, I'm here to take you back to the Holy Land!"

...

Chapter 364: Enlightenment Tea Tree

Hua Yunfei, clad in white, exuded a divine charm. As he approached Ye Chen, the radiant halo behind his head dimmed from its earlier brilliance, yet his presence remained awe-inspiring, like a descended god-king.

"Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother! I knew the Heavenly Intention Holy Son was no match for you," Ye Chen said with a grin.

In truth, when the Heavenly Intention Holy Son sought revenge, Heavenly Evolution Holy Land could have sent elders to escort Ye Chen safely. But since this was a grudge among peers, involving seniors would have been a loss of face.

It was best settled by their generation, and Hua Yunfei had proven his mettle, clashing with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son for a year. Now, to ensure Ye Chen's safety, he'd come personally—a heartwarming gesture.

Hua Yunfei smiled, shaking his head. "The Heavenly Intention Holy Son is formidable. His Heavenly Intention Immortal Scripture is at great completion, and his offensive power is astonishing, even surpassing mine slightly. I suspect he's inherited the Battle Secret, though likely incomplete. He wields a half-divine stele, extraordinary in nature, capable of manifesting myriad Dao and laws, nearly ignoring all defenses. That stele carries an ancient, timeless aura, and I believe its inscriptions hold the Battle Secret's legacy."

His words dropped a bombshell. Ye Chen, however, wasn't overly shocked. During their battle, he'd suspected as much. With his True Dragon Treasure Technique and Imperial Dragon Qi, his offensive power was already remarkable, yet the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's attacks had unsettled him. The Battle Secret would explain it.

This didn't mean the Battle Secret outpowered the True Dragon Treasure Technique. The Heavenly Intention Holy Son's higher realm and deeper comprehension of Dao and laws, even through his avatar, gave him an edge. But once their realms aligned, that advantage would vanish, and the incomplete Battle Secret's flaws would become a liability against Ye Chen.

Hua Yunfei's mention of the half-divine stele piqued Ye Chen's interest. If it truly bore the Battle Secret's inscriptions, its value was immense. Acquiring and gifting it could yield the complete secret. The Ten Vicious Treasure Techniquess were the legacy of myriad races, while the Nine Secrets were humanity's counter, developed to rival them. Mastering both would elevate Ye Chen's strength to new heights.

…

"Is Senior Brother injured?" Ye Chen asked with concern, knowing Hua Yunfei had clashed with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son because of him.

Hua Yunfei shook his head calmly. "The wounds from the Battle Secret are tricky to heal, but they're no issue. Don't worry about it." He continued, "Half a year ago, during a break from fighting, I heard the elders say you were cultivating a technique in the Sword Sect and might face challenges. I obtained this treasure from a legacy; it could help. But seeing your aura now, you likely don't need it yet. Keep it for when you break through to Deity Transformation."

With that, Hua Yunfei presented an ancient jade box. Ye Chen's keen eyes recognized its rarity—a top-tier artifact capable of sealing its contents for hundreds of thousands of years without leaking a trace of aura. The box alone was priceless; the treasure inside must be extraordinary.

Ye Chen was genuinely stunned. His senior brother was too generous, gifting treasures at every meeting. Did Hua Yunfei have a "good brother system" of his own? As Ye Chen opened the box, his eyes lit up. Elder Mo, standing nearby, couldn't contain his shock. "Is that a leaf from the Enlightenment Tea Tree?"

Ye Chen's gaze turned incredulous. The Enlightenment Tea Tree was among the cultivation world's supreme immortal roots, each unique with unparalleled effects. This tree aided enlightenment—cultivating beneath it yielded a month's progress equivalent to a year elsewhere. Its leaves, brewed into tea, boosted comprehension, making breakthroughs or technique mastery far easier, with effects bordering on absurd.

The tree produced only 108 leaves annually, sparking fierce battles among great powers for their share. Long ago, a dying True Immortal used a segment of its trunk as a coffin, hoping his corpse might achieve enlightenment and live a second life.

The attempt failed, nearly killing the tree. Later calamities left it on the brink of death until the Heavenly Emperor intervened, attempting to transplant it. Tragically, it perished soon after, becoming a legend. Surviving leaves grew scarcer, yet here was one in Hua Yunfei's possession.

Ye Chen examined it. The leaf wasn't green but golden, etched with a mountain-and-river pattern and countless divine runes, infusing the surroundings with a profound Dao charm. Its faint fragrance cleared his spiritual sense. An unrivaled treasure.

Does Senior Brother have a system too? This generosity was outrageous. Was Hua Yunfei a transmigrator like him?

Hua Yunfei added, "Don't feel shy about the tea leaf. I obtained three. I used one for my breakthrough, gave one to Tantai, and this one's for you. This era's immortal path may be the most perilous, possibly the last. After it closes, the world might change drastically, becoming unfit for cultivation, perhaps impossible. So, before it opens, Junior Brother, you must boost your strength to catch this era's immortal path."

Ye Chen was startled by Hua Yunfei's words. What did he mean? Hua Yunfei didn't elaborate, admitting his knowledge was limited, pieced together from fragments. But his solemn tone made Ye Chen thoughtful. Still, he wasn't panicked. With his diligence and system, no matter how harsh the cultivation world became, he could carve a new path. No problem!

Moreover, with the Enlightenment Tea Leaf, if he gifted it and triggered a critical hit, his cultivation speed could soar even further.

…