ISWI Chapter 358-359

Chapter 358: Heir of the Heavenly Emperor!

Killing the Heavenly Intention prodigy and obliterating the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's avatar were each monumental events. Yet today, they happened together. The shock in the onlookers' hearts was beyond words.

The new Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land was not only outrageously powerful but also utterly fearless, already bearing the shadow of the legendary True Immortals in their youth. One thought dominated the crowd: he was not to be provoked.

…

High in the void above, the old man's face was ashen. He had wanted to intervene several times, but Elder Mo's overwhelming presence held him back. Sighing, he looked at Mo. "Was this necessary? Things have escalated this far, and your Heavenly Evolution Holy Land will pay a price. With the Holy Son's temperament, Ye Chen is as good as dead. Even you can't stop him. His Heavenly Intention Scripture has reached unimaginable heights, and he may even possess the Battle Secret's inheritance."

Shaking his head, the old man left silently, his mind racing with how to explain this to the Heavenly Intention Holy Son without incurring his wrath.

Elder Mo, however, showed no concern, only gazing at Ye Chen with a trace of awe. When he chose to become Ye Chen's Protector, he hadn't held high hopes. With his celestial platform shattered, rebuilding it seemed near impossible—a desperate gamble at best. Yet Ye Chen's performance far exceeded his expectations.

Mo recognized the Imperial Dragon Qi, a sign that Ye Chen cultivated the Great Emperor Scripture. Then there were the True Dragon, True Phoenix, and Kun Peng Treasure Techniques. From their power, they didn't seem like mere fragments but complete inheritances.

Recalling Ye Chen's Golden Core tribulation, where he displayed the aura of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra and condensed a divine furnace, and his battle with Yao Gu, where he shattered Yao's war chariot with a mysterious one of his own, it all pointed to one figure: the most dazzling Heavenly Emperor in human history.

That emperor had also mastered multiple immortal scriptures and wielded the Ten Vicious Treasure Technique. Could Ye Chen be his heir? If so, his achievements today were no surprise.

Ye Chen's brilliance surpassed Mo's wildest dreams. The more extraordinary Ye Chen was, the greater his destiny. As his Protector, Mo could share in that destiny, increasing his chances of rebuilding his celestial platform.

In the cultivation world, Protectors abandoning their charges wasn't rare—few were willing to die for another. The old man from earlier was proof. But now, Mo fully embraced his role, resolved to protect Ye Chen at all costs. This was not just for Ye Chen, but for himself as well.

Having vanquished his formidable foe, Ye Chen was in high spirits. He stepped down and approached his master, who stood with a face full of shock, chuckling lightly. "Master, I was quick, wasn't I?"

Though the battle seemed drawn out, from the moment Ye Chen crushed Ying Tianjing, to the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's avatar appearing, to their complete annihilation, it had taken barely the time of one incense stick.

Gu Yunyun gazed at Ye Chen, her eyes a mix of awe, joy, and worry. "The Heavenly Intention Holy Son is already at the peak of Deity Transformation, on the verge of Unity Realm. You killed his brother—might he come for revenge himself?"

Ye Chen nodded. It was a real possibility. But he had already planned for it. He sent a transmission to Elder Mo. "Elder Mo, please inform the Holy Land that the Heavenly Intention Holy Son might come to kill me. Ask my eldest senior brother for help."

High in the sky, Elder Mo smiled. The bond between Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's two top prodigies, free of rivalry, was rare in the Holy Land's history. After all, two tigers rarely shared a mountain. Having two prodigies with such magnanimity and vision boded well for the Holy Land's future. Mo agreed and began contacting the Holy Land.

Before Ye Chen, Gu Yunyun bit her lip and spoke earnestly. "Next, I'll escort you back to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. If the Heavenly Intention Holy Son comes to assassinate you, I'll hold him off to let you escape."

Ye Chen was momentarily stunned, then smiled warmly. His master's bold claim to stop the Heavenly Intention Holy Son likely stemmed from the sealed sword intent within her, which might grant her power far beyond her realm for a short time. But such a forced outburst would surely cost her life. Yet, without hesitation, she spoke those words, warming Ye Chen's heart.

He recalled the incident at Green Cloud Sect, when Elder Kong threatened him. That very night, his master had taken him to Talisman Peak to settle the score. "No need, no need. The Holy Land will send someone to protect me," he reassured her, gently taking her hand.

Gu Yunyun's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't pull away.

Ye Chen's gaze drifted to Dugu Yue, trembling in the corner of the arena. He realized the Sword Sect's sect leader battle hadn't concluded. "Ying Tianjing is dead, but there's one left. This woman seems to hold a grudge against you, Master. Should I deal with her?"

He looked at Gu Yunyun, awaiting her response.

Dugu Yue's face paled at Ye Chen's words. Though this was the Sword Sect, Ye Chen had dared to kill the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's brother and destroy his avatar. In comparison, killing her within the sect seemed trivial.

But Gu Yunyun shook her head. "No. She's the Grand Elder's great-granddaughter. I understand her resentment, so let it be."

Ye Chen, not one for wanton slaughter, let the matter drop. The sect leader arena battle had been filled with shocking twists, rendering the final outcome of the sect leader position almost an afterthought.

The elder overseeing the arena, likely communicating through divine sense, paused for a long moment before addressing Gu Yunyun solemnly. "Gu Yunyun is victorious. From this day forward, she is the sect leader of the Sword Sect."

The elder bowed first. "Greetings, Sect Leader."

The surrounding elders and disciples followed, bowing and echoing, "Greetings, Sect Leader!" But their voices lacked enthusiasm. Gu Yunyun, a recent addition to the Sword Sect as a guest elder, was neither familiar nor close to most. Moreover, in this sect leader battle, the two true contenders—Gu Yunyun and Dugu Yue—hadn't even fought. Her ascension felt weightless, almost hollow.

Ye Chen noticed this. He sent a transmission to his master, urging her to return with him to the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. Staying here, where she couldn't command respect and might face exclusion, seemed pointless. Why not join him at the Holy Land, where he could help her refine the sealed sword intent within her more efficiently?

Gu Yunyun shook her head. "The Dugu Sword Intent is best refined in Sword Valley, where the True Immortal's sword intent lingers. It's twice as effective here."

At the mention of the Dugu Sword Intent, Ye Chen recalled the gift he'd prepared for his master. He retrieved it from his storage ring. "Master, this is for you."

A mottled wooden sword appeared in his hand, presented to Gu Yunyun. The moment it emerged, Sword Peak trembled. In Sword Valley, sword qi surged skyward, roiling like a tidal wave. From the valley's depths, several figures shot forth like bolts of lightning, their gazes locked onto the wooden sword before Gu Yunyun.

"This…"

"Is this Ancestor Dugu's wooden sword?"

As the words rang out, the entire Sword Sect erupted in an uproar.

Chapter 359: More Thrilling Than a Prodigy Battle!

The moment Ye Chen revealed the wooden sword once wielded by Dugu Bubai, it stirred the sword qi of the entire Sword Sect. Sword Peak quaked, and Sword Valley roared. Even the reclusive elders, who hadn't left the valley in centuries, were roused.

The sword's aura was too potent to conceal—an absolute supreme weapon, infused with Dugu Bubai's swordsmanship insights from his Mahayana Realm days. For the Sword Sect, it was a peerless treasure, rivaling an immortal artifact.

When Dugu Bubai ascended to immortality, he declared he no longer needed a sword. Dismissing the idea of leaving it for his descendants, he said, "As my heirs, you'll forge your own sword path."

With that, he discarded the wooden sword, slew his final foes, and passed through the Heavenly Gate. In the generations that followed, the Sword Sect declined, searching fruitlessly for the lost relic. Yet here it was, in Ye Chen's hands.

"May we ask, Holy Son, where you found this sword?" one of the elders asked, eyes burning with fervor.

Ye Chen replied calmly, "I stumbled upon it while exploring a ruin. Knowing my master cultivates the sword path, I thought it might be useful, so I brought it for her."

The elders fell silent. The Sword Sect's cherished treasure, which they'd failed to recover despite years of effort, had been casually found by someone else? And now, it was being given away so easily? This was a supreme weapon, among the most powerful below immortal artifacts, its might unimaginable. Even Holy Lands possessed few of its caliber.

They longed to reclaim the Dugu wooden sword for the Sword Sect, but it was Ye Chen's gift to Gu Yunyun. Recalling how Ye Chen had killed both the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's brother and avatar over mere words, they decided against provoking him.

Besides, Gu Yunyun was now the sect leader. The sword in her hands was as good as staying with the Sword Sect. When she eventually passed, it would surely remain with the sect. No harm done.

With this in mind, the elders who had rushed out beamed, their wrinkled faces blooming like chrysanthemums. The Sword Sect crowd erupted in astonishment. They hadn't expected Ye Chen to present such an unimaginable gift.

Countless female disciples gazed at Gu Yunyun with envy, jealous of her having a disciple who was not only supremely talented and blessed with heaven-defying luck but also devoted—and now her dao companion.

Gu Yunyun's face was etched with astonishment. Her lips parted as if to speak, but knowing Ye Chen's temperament, she held back. For some reason, a faint blush colored her cheeks. She reached out, her delicate hand grasping the wooden sword. As a cultivator of the Dugu Sword Scripture, the moment she touched it, a profound transformation occurred. Her aura sharpened, growing even more piercing.

…

At the behest of the elders, a Sword Sect elder hurriedly presented Gu Yunyun with the sect leader's token. The original plan was to hold a grand ceremony in three days, but now, everything was expedited to ensure Gu Yunyun's ascension. They couldn't risk her taking the wooden sword and leaving for Heavenly Evolution Holy Land with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's threat looming.

One of the elders spoke warmly, "Gu Yunyun, you are now the leader of our Sword Sect. With the sect leader's token, you can enter the secret realm deep within Sword Valley. Take the wooden sword with you—it may aid in awakening your Undefeated Sword Body, increasing your chances of success."

Gu Yunyun bowed respectfully, thanking them for their guidance. The elder then turned to Ye Chen. "The Holy Son is both the master's disciple and her dao companion. Rounding it up, you're practically one of us!"

Gu Yunyun's cheeks flushed with a hint of embarrassment, but she didn't clarify. Another elder stepped forward, offering a token. "Holy Son, you've returned Ancestor Dugu's wooden sword to our sect. We cannot let this go unrewarded. There's a special secret realm in Sword Valley with profound sword qi. Though entering it will cause constant injury from the sword qi, each recovery leaves a trace of sword intent in the body, nourishing the flesh.

"After a decade of cultivation there, one might awaken the Sword-Devouring Spirit Body, transforming blood qi into sword qi. This enhances physical defense exponentially, and when attacked, the sword qi automatically retaliates, injuring the enemy and preventing their wounds from healing."

This secret realm, which amassed enough sword qi to open only once every century, was typically reserved for the sect's prodigies. But Ye Chen's formidable strength and status as the sect leader's dao companion made him a valuable ally worth winning over. Thus, the elder offered it without hesitation.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. The Sword-Devouring Spirit Body sounded like a counter-damage mechanism with built-in retaliation and wound-sustaining effects. But it held little value for him. Spending a decade in the Sword Sect to cultivate a physique wasn't appealing, especially when he doubted a mere sect could offer a defense-oriented physique strong enough to impress him. Only a critical hit from his system might yield something truly enticing.

Holding the token, Ye Chen asked calmly, "Can I transfer this opportunity to someone else?"

The elder froze, glancing back at the three senior elders. After a brief moment of hesitation, they nodded. Clearly, a prodigy like Ye Chen had no interest in the Sword-Devouring Spirit Body. Since the token was meant to build goodwill, letting Ye Chen decide its recipient was fine. "The token is yours, Holy Son. Do as you wish."

Ye Chen's eyes lit up at the thought of gifting it. He felt more excited than during his battle with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's avatar. Turning to his master, he thought of how long it had been since he'd shown proper filial piety. Her 800x aptitude was extraordinary, and a critical hit might yield a heaven-defying physique or technique. He was practically itching with anticipation.

But Gu Yunyun, all too familiar with Ye Chen's ways, read his intentions instantly. She shook her head with a light smile. "My path doesn't align with the Sword-Devouring Spirit Body. I don't need it. The Undefeated Sword Body is one of the supreme physiques in the cultivation world. It's a pity you're my disciple but don't follow the sword path, or I'd have given this chance to you."

The Sword-Devouring Spirit Body was useless to her—she had a greater path to tread. Ye Chen felt a twinge of disappointment; the 800x multiplier was out of reach. But he didn't dwell on it. If his master couldn't use it, he'd give it to someone else.

Scanning the Sword Sect crowd, his gaze landed on the female cultivator beside Lin Qian, her face etched with worry. His eyes brightened—she had a 500x multiplier, the highest among the female cultivators present. While not exceptional, it was decent enough. A critical hit could make it worthwhile.

With a smile to his master, Ye Chen strode toward Lin Qian.

…

Lin Qian, still reeling from Ye Chen's display of power, understood the vast gap between himself and a top prodigy. Only a man like Ye Chen was worthy of Gu Yunyun. Seeing her cool, blushing expression stirred a mix of bitterness and joy in his heart.