ISWI Chapter 346-347

Chapter 346: The Battle for Sect Leader!

The Hundred Flowers Immortal was a solitary cultivator from ancient times, unlike other prodigies who carved out an invincible path. Her journey was remarkably smooth, with few enemies. Her breathtaking beauty, said to captivate the three realms, earned her the title of the era's foremost goddess.

With the aid of countless male prodigies, she spent five thousand years ascending to True Immortal. Her talent wasn't unparalleled, but she reportedly created her own immortal scripture, one that accelerated cultivation and ultimately led to her immortality.

Named the Hundred Flowers Immortal Scripture, it was the dream of countless female cultivators. Yet, as a solitary cultivator who never took disciples, she left no legacy, a regret mourned by many in the cultivation world. That Ye Chen had somehow obtained this scripture was nothing short of astonishing.

Elder He, who had once scoffed at tales of Ye Chen's extraordinary luck and divine favor, now believed them wholeheartedly. He couldn't help but speak up. "I hear your Protector is Senior Mo. He's getting on in years, and his cultivation is waning—any day now, he might drop below the Unity Realm. But I'm different, in my prime and at mid-Unity. Why don't you discuss with Senior Mo and let me take his place as your Protector?"

Ye Chen chuckled. Elder He's shift from disdain to deference was almost too seamless. But Ye Chen had no intention of replacing his Protector. Senior Mo had been recommended by his senior brother, so there was little chance of betrayal. Besides, Elder He cultivated the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture—hardly a match for Senior Mo in a real fight. Ye Chen politely declined.

At Elder He's insistent urging, Ye Chen took his granddaughter, He Qiu, back to Ascension Peak, instructing Mo Yuzhu to arrange a cave abode for her. As for the Hundred Flowers Immortal Scripture and the True Phoenix Treasure Technique, Ye Chen would naturally impart them once Qiuqiu reached the Golden Core stage. He genuinely liked the girl's kind-hearted nature. Despite her admiration for him, she hadn't pressured her grandfather into risking a dangerous divination on his behalf. That alone earned his respect.

Moreover, with Elder He so devoted to his granddaughter, Ye Chen knew that nurturing her well would ensure the elder's future assistance. It was like a parent entrusting their child to a kindergarten—if the teacher asked for a small favor, could the parent refuse?

Divination was undeniably useful, and Ye Chen might need it someday. But he had no interest in cultivating the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture himself. Predicting fortune and misfortune was far less thrilling than achieving personal invincibility, and the scripture's limitations were too restrictive.

However, he'd heard that the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture was derived from the Foresight Secret, one of the legendary Nine Secrets. It was said that the Holy Land's founder, the Heavenly Evolution True Immortal, had obtained half of the Foresight Secret and used it to create the scripture.

The true Foresight Secret was far more formidable, capable not only of divining fortune but potentially glimpsing the future. At its peak, it allowed one to predict an opponent's moves and weaknesses in the heat of battle, effortlessly countering every strike. Its power was unimaginable.

The Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture paled in comparison. Unless Ye Chen could obtain something like the Foresight Secret, he had no interest in it.

The Nine Secrets were supreme techniques passed down from ancient times, originally a single entity. However, due to their heaven-defying nature, they were deemed intolerable by the Great Dao and split into nine distinct secret arts. Each secret represents an ultimate ability, granting its master extraordinary power. They were the pinnacle of human secret arts, capable of rivaling the Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques while taking a different path. So rare were they that most cultivators had never even heard of them, and some existed only in legends, their very existence uncertain.

Ye Chen, however, wasn't worried. As long as they truly existed, his system could produce them. For now, he would focus on cultivating and seeking out the Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques. The Nine Secrets could be collected in time.

The Heavenly Emperor had once said that if one gathered all the Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques and fused them with supreme insight, an unparalleled Treasure Technique could emerge. If Ye Chen could then fuse the Nine Secrets into it, wouldn't that make him utterly invincible?

But those were matters for the future. After Mo Yuzhu arranged a residence for He Qiu and reported back, Ye Chen instructed her to head to the External Affairs Peak with his Holy Son token to gather information on the Sword Sect and his master.

As a Holy Son, Ye Chen wielded significant authority in the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, and his prodigious talent made most eager to curry favor with him. Mo Yuzhu returned swiftly, informing him that the External Affairs Peak would deliver detailed information within a week.

Ye Chen nodded, returned to his cave abode, and resumed his cultivation, planning to retrieve his master once her exact location and situation were confirmed.

...

In the southern region of the Great Yan Continent lay the Sword Sect. Unlike most sects with towering peaks and ethereal immortal vistas, the Sword Sect was distinct. Aside from a single main peak, it was surrounded by vast plains.

At the heart of these plains stretched an immense, flat canyon, ten thousand miles long and unfathomably deep, as if it pierced through to the underworld. Known as Sword Valley, it was said to have been carved by the sect's founder, Sword Lord Dugu, during a test of his blade. Even after nearly a million years, the valley brimmed with lingering sword intent. Sword Sect disciples could harness this sword qi to refine their own swordsmanship, and their cave abodes were built along the valley's edge.

In one such abode at the outermost edge, a figure in a red dress sat cross-legged on a jade mat, her stunning silhouette radiating grace. She cradled a jade sword, its aura as cold and deep as a still lake, and cultivated in serene silence. Sword intent flowed around her, circulating into the jade sword and back, each cycle purifying it further. Within the cave, a spiritual spring bubbled, forming a clear pool. Beside it grew a peach tree, its branches swaying with lush green leaves, though its blossoms had yet to bloom.

After an indeterminate time, a faint tremor stirred the cave abode as a transmission talisman at the entrance activated. A voice echoed through: "Fellow Daoist Gu, pardon the intrusion. It's Lin Qian."

The sword qi swirling around the woman gradually subsided. Her exquisite phoenix eyes opened, and she gently drew the jade sword into her dantian. With the soft chime of a wind bell, she rose and stepped out of the cave.

Outside, a refined man awaited, his demeanor gentle and jade-like, exuding the charm of a cultured gentleman. "Greetings, Elder Lin Qian," Gu Yunyun said softly.

Lin Qian gazed at her, a flicker of infatuation in his eyes, quickly replaced by concern. "The matter of the Sect Leader's Arena has been settled by the elders, and the Supreme Elder has given his approval. It's set for one month from now. I tried to argue on your behalf, but it was no use. Dugu Yue is already at the late Nascent Soul stage, while you're only at the early stage. It's unfair.

"Worse, Dugu Yue has a dao companion, and per Sword Sect rules, they can ascend the arena together. Her companion is a late Nascent Soul legacy disciple from the Heavenly Intention Holy Land, on the verge of Deity Transformation. Facing them alone is too dangerous, Fellow Daoist Gu. If you're willing, I'll stand by your side in the arena. I have a sword, nurtured for two hundred years—even that legacy disciple may not be my match."

Lin Qian's eyes burned with resolve. But Gu Yunyun's stunning face showed little emotion. She shook her head gently. "Thank you for the warning, Elder Lin. I will attend the arena. But I won't trouble you, Fellow Daoist."

With that, she offered a calm salute and turned back to her cave. As the protective barrier resealed the entrance, Lin Qian's eyes dimmed. They had known each other for years, their cave abodes not far apart, yet she always felt distant, like a star beyond reach. He had never even seen her smile. With such a beautiful face, her smile must be breathtaking, he thought.

His expression soon hardened with determination. No matter the cost, he would do everything in his power to help Gu Yunyun claim the Sword Sect's leadership—even if it meant his life.

Chapter 347: A Clear Conscience Was Enough.

Lin Qian walked steadily along the great canyon, choosing not to fly, as he made his way back to his cave abode. A graceful female cultivator was already waiting there, her eyes filled with a mix of admiration and worry. "Senior Brother, are you really going to help Gu Yunyun in the arena?"

Lin Qian gave a faint smile, a touch of nostalgia in his eyes. "Forty years ago, when I left the Sword Sect to travel, I visited the Green Cloud Sect and discussed swordsmanship with Gu Yunyun's master. That's when I first met her. Though she was young, her temperament and talent left a deep impression on me. I wanted to take her as my disciple and bring her to the Sword Sect, but she declined.

"Years later, when we crossed paths again, I invited her to join our sect as a guest elder. Who could have imagined she'd gain such an opportunity? Before the Supreme Elder passed, he recognized her potential, exhausting his foundation to unlock her dormant Sword Heart and passing down the Dugu Sword Scripture. In his final moments, he sealed his entire reservoir of pure sword intent into her body."

"That sword intent propelled her cultivation to soar," he continued. "If she can fully refine it, she could reach the peak of the Integration Realm. But Dugu Yue, as the Supreme Elder's great-granddaughter, is unwilling to accept this. She demands the sealed sword intent be reclaimed. That intent is so potent that forcibly extracting it would cripple Gu Yunyun. I was the one who brought her into the sect—it's my responsibility to stand by her."

Lin Qian's smile was light, but his resolve was unshakable.

His junior sister's face dimmed. "Is it only responsibility? Besides, the legacy disciple from the Heavenly Intention Holy Land is terrifying. They're ruthless, claiming to act on heaven's behalf. Anyone who opposes them is labeled a rebel against fate, and they show no mercy.

"Dugu Yue's dao companion, Ying Tianjing, is the younger brother of the Heavenly Intention Holy Son, deeply favored and immensely talented. Rumor has it that after Yao Gu killed several direct disciples of the Heavenly Intention Holy Land, Ying Tianjing, despite being a minor realm below Yao Gu, sought him out for revenge.

"The outcome of their battle wasn't clear, but it's said to have been a draw. To match Yao Gu at a lower realm shows his caliber. Now at the late Nascent Soul stage, his strength must be even more formidable. If you step into the arena, Senior Brother, you might…"

Lin Qian dismissed her concerns with a smile. "No matter. He's just a legacy disciple, not the Holy Son himself. I may not be an unrivaled prodigy, but I'm no weakling either. With my Seven Heaven-Defying Swords, I'm not without means. As for Dugu Yue, her sword qi is superficial. Though her cultivation is higher, in a real fight, she may not outmatch Fellow Daoist Gu. If I can hold off Ying Tianjing, our chances of victory are high."

His junior sister's eyes reddened. The Seven Heaven-Defying Swords—a forbidden technique of the Sword Sect. Each strike drained the user's life force, and unleashing all seven would cost at least a century of lifespan. Was her senior brother truly willing to go this far for Gu Yunyun?

Lin Qian didn't notice her expression. After a brief farewell, he returned to his cave abode with a calm demeanor, beginning preparations for the battle one month hence.

Within the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, Ye Chen sat cross-legged in his cave abode, immersed in cultivation. Divine light shimmered around him, and fleeting visions materialized behind him, casting an aura that made him resemble a deity. Sensing a disturbance outside, he gradually ceased his practice. The radiant glow emanating from his pores faded, and with a long exhale, he released a golden dragon-like breath. His eyes opened, sharp as lightning, and he strode to the entrance where Mo Yuzhu awaited.

Mo Yuzhu presented a jade slip, her eyes brimming with admiration. "Holy Son, the External Affairs Peak has compiled the information you requested. It was just delivered, and I brought it to you immediately."

Ye Chen nodded calmly, a spark of anticipation in his eyes as he took the jade slip. His divine sense probed within, and details about his master flooded his mind. When he saw her current cultivation level, even he couldn't suppress a jolt of surprise.

Fortunately, the Holy Land's intelligence was thorough, quickly clarifying his confusion. His master had caught the eye of the Sword Sect's Supreme Elder, who granted her his inheritance and used a secret sect technique to awaken her Sword Heart. Before passing, the elder had bestowed his entire reservoir of sword intent upon her, propelling her cultivation to soar—nearly matching Ye Chen's own.

This filled Ye Chen with joy. However, as he read further, his brow furrowed. The position of Sword Sect Leader was vacant, and the role came with a rare opportunity: access to the depths of Sword Valley's secret realm.

There, one could temper their body with the founder's primal sword qi and intent, harmonizing with a Sword Heart to shed their mortal form and forge the Unbeatable Sword Body—a top-tier physique that had reached its zenith in the sect's founder, Dugu Qiubai, capable of cleaving through anything.

Yet, awakening the Unbeatable Sword Body required more than a Sword Heart. Those lacking sincerity in their swordsmanship or harboring other flaws stood little chance, even within the secret realm. Success hinged on fortune, and the Sword Sect hadn't produced an Unbeatable Sword Body in six thousand years.

The Supreme Elder had been optimistic about Gu Yunyun, decreeing before his death that she should be the next sect leader, believing she could awaken the physique. But his granddaughter, Dugu Yue, was resentful, feeling Gu Yunyun had stolen her rightful opportunity. She appealed to another Supreme Elder, and many within the Sword Sect, wary of an outsider like Gu Yunyun, were less than welcoming.

Ultimately, Gu Yunyun would have to face Dugu Yue in a duel to determine the sect leader. In this battle, both could bring their dao companions to the arena, regardless of their sect, and even the companions stood to gain rewards if victorious.

Ye Chen's brow furrowed as he read on. How could the cultivation world allow outsiders to meddle in a sect's leadership contest?

As if anticipating his confusion, the External Affairs Peak had included a detailed explanation in the jade slip. Long ago, the Dugu family's influence within the Sword Sect was waning. Their prodigy at the time lacked the strength to defeat rivals for the sect leader's position but had a formidable dao companion.

To tip the scales, a Dugu family Supreme Elder intervened, pushing through a rule change: in the contest for sect leader, candidates could fight alongside their dao companions. The stated reason—that sword cultivators, being too rigid, needed a complementary partner—was flimsy, but the rule was enacted nonetheless. Over time, it proved somewhat beneficial and became tradition.

Ye Chen's mouth twitched. So, even the great powers of the cultivation world were just makeshift operations, cobbled together like amateur troupes!

As for Dugu Yue's ally, she had enlisted Ying Tianjing, a legacy disciple from the Heavenly Intention Holy Land. The jade slip included his profile: the younger brother of the Heavenly Intention Holy Son. At mid-Nascent Soul stage, he had fought Yao Gu, then at late-Nascent Soul, for three days to a stalemate. Now at the peak of late-Nascent Soul, his strength was even more terrifying.

Ye Chen set the jade slip down with a calm expression, shaking his head. Yao Gu had strutted before him, acting invincible beneath the Holy Son level, yet this was his caliber? Truly underwhelming. But for a Heavenly Intention Holy Land legacy disciple to help steal what rightfully belonged to his master? That, Ye Chen couldn't tolerate.

He knew it was time to act. He had to support his master. Though the battle allowed dao companions, his master had none—so who better to step up than her disciple? As for what others might think? A disciple honoring and aiding their master was beyond reproach. There was no need to dwell on potential misunderstandings. A clear conscience was enough.