ISWI Chapter 341-342

Chapter 341: Comparable to the Nine Secrets!

After recruiting the first batch of disciples, Ye Chen no longer paid attention to the outside world. Instead, he devoted himself to cultivating the Great Emperor Scripture. After all, cultivation was the foundation of everything.

During this time, Ye Chen also passed down the Hundred Flowers Immortal Scripture to the female cultivators around him. An Miaoli, who practiced the Eternal Cosmos Sutra, didn't need the Hundred Flowers Immortal Scripture but could still study it for insight.

The other female cultivators, upon receiving the immortal scripture, were utterly astonished. Even heaven-grade techniques had once been lofty and unattainable for them, let alone an immortal scripture. And now, it had come into their hands so easily?

However, not everyone received a copy of the immortal scripture. An Yuyi and An Miaoli naturally did, as did the maids like Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er. The Hundred Flowers Immortal Scripture not only extended lifespan and boosted cultivation speed but also enhanced one's appearance. Allowing them to practice it might even amplify their potential.

As for the elders and disciples of Ascension Peak, like Lin Qingtan, Li Feihuang, and Mo Yuzhu, they didn't receive it. Relationships had their degrees of closeness, and if everyone got such treasures without any threshold, they would seem cheap. Only after these female cultivators made contributions to Ascension Peak would Ye Chen consider bestowing the scripture. This was also a form of motivation.

In the days that followed, Ye Chen spent his time either cultivating or giving gifts. The process of gifting was primarily focused on his own improvement, such as mastering the six arts of cultivation. In just two months, thanks to the system's feedback, he had elevated all of them to the perfect fourth-grade level.

Beyond that, the main focus of his gifting was resources needed for Nascent Soul stage cultivation—pills, spells, spiritual treasures, and the like. For an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, these were things that took years or even decades of effort to gather after a breakthrough.

But for Ye Chen, it was as simple as eating or drinking. With a single act of gifting, thousands of top-grade pills would appear in his storage bracelet. As for spiritual treasures, they piled up in heaps within the bracelet. This feeling of never having to worry about cultivation resources was something countless cultivators could only dream of. Just thinking about it was enough to realize how exhilarating it was.

Time passed swiftly, but the discussions within the Holy Land about Ascension Peak showed no signs of fading. On the contrary, the buzz around the peak only grew hotter.

The rumors about the Fourth Holy Son—his apparent laziness and penchant for surrounding himself with female cultivators—drew scorn from many disciples, especially the male ones. They viewed him as a man without ambition. After all, who among the truly elite prodigies would indulge in the pleasures of romance?

Take Senior Brother Hua, for instance. He only had eyes for the First Holy Maiden, Dantai Xuan, and other female cultivators could barely get close to him, no matter how hard they tried. Then there was the Yao Family's Holy Son, a generational prodigy. Countless goddesses admired him, yet he remained aloof, never swayed by their affections.

As for the Holy Son of the Heavenly Intention Holy Land, he treated female cultivators like playthings, discarding them without a second thought. Man or woman, anyone who crossed him was obliterated with a single punch.

But their own Fourth Holy Son? Not only did he bring a retinue of female cultivators to the Holy Land, but the first thing he did upon arrival was select female disciples to join him, practically building a harem. This was utterly lacking in the demeanor of a top-tier prodigy.

The cultivation world was full of talented individuals who had fallen from grace. One such tale, widely known, was that of Zhong Yong from ancient times. Said to be the reincarnation of an Immortal Emperor, Zhong Yong had reached the Qi Refining stage at three, Foundation Establishment at seven, Golden Core at fifteen, Nascent Soul at twenty-eight, and Deity Transformation before forty. His combat prowess was unparalleled, and many believed he could become the next Heavenly Emperor.

Yet, he fell into decadence, spending his days carousing with female cultivators, drinking with prodigies, and basking in flattery while neglecting his cultivation. In the end, on the path to immortality, he was crushed by a great enemy with a single punch—a tragedy that left many sighing in regret. If the Fourth Holy Son continued down this path, he was destined to become another Zhong Yong.

Despite the criticism swirling behind Ye Chen's back, the female cultivators' anticipation for Ascension Peak only grew. Word had spread about the peak's remarkable benefits.

For the same level of cultivation, the resources and treatment provided to disciples and elders at Ascension Peak were five times the Holy Land's average. And that wasn't all.

The Fourth Holy Son was extraordinarily generous with female cultivators. If you caught him in a good mood, you were likely to receive a gift, and not just any gift. His presents were exceptional: pills, spiritual artifacts, treasures, you name it.

Take Mo Yuzhu, the first to join the Holy Lord Peak. Her friend had once griped to others that when Mo Yuzhu was practicing a spell a month ago, she happened upon the Holy Son strolling by. With a casual gesture, he gifted her a heaven-grade spell.

Other female disciples who joined Ascension Peak had also received generous rewards from the Fourth Holy Son—spells, treasures, pills, almost everything one could imagine.

There was even a rumor that the Fourth Holy Son possessed a complete immortal scripture, and the female cultivators he brought with him were all practicing it.

What's more, disciples of the Holy Land who made significant contributions to Ascension Peak could also be granted this immortal scripture. When this news broke, the outside world was stunned.

An immortal scripture! Such texts were reserved exclusively for Holy Sons and Holy Maidens. To think that ordinary disciples at Ascension Peak could access them? It was almost too incredible to believe.

Though most people were skeptical and unsure whether the rumors were true, the discussions still stirred the hearts of countless female disciples. Many resolved to sign up next year when Ascension Peak opened its gates.

There were whispers that joining the peak meant dual cultivating with the Holy Son, but that wasn't seen as a big issue. For some, it was even acceptable—desirable, even. After all, the Holy Son was extraordinarily talented, with boundless prospects and dashing looks.

Dual cultivating with him? It wasn't clear who'd be getting the better deal. Some female disciples were outright eager, planning to dress their best on the day of the ascent to catch the Holy Son's eye.

Regardless, there was no doubt about Ascension Peak's laid-back attitude. Everyone knew resources in the Holy Land were finite. Providing one disciple with five times the resources was tempting, but it limited the number of disciples who could be nurtured.

This made it unlikely for the peak to rank well in the Holy Land's grand competition. It was obvious to many that the Holy Son was using the Holy Land's resources to pamper his women. At this rate, within a couple of years, Ascension Peak's overall strength would likely fall to the bottom among the Holy Land's peaks.

In the blink of an eye, nearly a year had passed. Ye Chen sat cross-legged atop Holy Son Peak, his eyes deep as an abyss, a fleeting glimmer of a true dragon flashing within them. From his body, vibrant Imperial Dragon Qi flowed out through his pores.

Over the year, Ye Chen had fully mastered the Great Emperor Scripture, bringing his Imperial Dragon Qi to perfection. The Great Emperor Scripture was renowned among immortal scriptures, its offensive power considered unmatched in the world, rivaled only by the legendary Nine Secrets.

The Great Emperor himself was a legend, a human who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Heavenly Emperor. In the Mahayana stage, he defied immortals, shaking both heaven and earth. When his Imperial Dragon Qi was unleashed, no one in his era could match him—a testament to its terrifying might.

Now, Ye Chen's Imperial Dragon Qi had also reached perfection, boosting his combat strength by far more than just a few times.

Chapter 342: A Great Scholar Will Debate Scriptures on My Behalf!

"Now that my Imperial Dragon Qi is perfected and Ascension Peak is on the right track, it's time to find Master…" Ye Chen murmured to himself. His master held an exceptionally high place in his heart. Even though he was now surrounded by female cultivators with five hundred times the potential, his master, with a mere two hundred times, no longer seemed as dazzling by comparison.

But a master was a master, not something measurable by mere numbers. The story of the old sect leader, whether true or fabricated, had left an impression on him. Regardless, bringing his master back sooner rather than later was the right move. As for his father's situation, that needed to be resolved today as well.

Stepping out of the Holy Son Hall, Ye Chen was about to head to Dao Evolution Peak when his brow twitched, and he looked ahead. A figure gracefully approached—it was Mo Yuzhu.

"Holy Son, today is the day we open the peak to recruit new disciples," she said. "Seven hundred Holy Land disciples have already arrived. Here is the list. Would you like to personally make the selections, as you did last time?" Mo Yuzhu gazed at Ye Chen's handsome face, bowing respectfully.

Over the past year, Mo Yuzhu had been thoroughly won over by her Holy Son. The resources provided to disciples at Ascension Peak far exceeded what the outside world imagined.

Moreover, the Holy Son had gifted her treasures multiple times, including ones that could aid in forming a Nascent Soul. With these, she grew increasingly confident in achieving an Immortal Nascent Soul.

As for the rumors that joining Ascension Peak meant sleeping with the Holy Son, they were utter nonsense. The Holy Son was rather aloof with disciples like her, his interactions limited to gifting treasures—nothing more. They might have wished for the "refinement" of the Holy Son's attention, but no such opportunity ever arose. Only the female cultivators he brought with him, like An Miaoli and An Yuyi, were privileged to stay by his side.

Sometimes, when Mo Yuzhu came to report, she'd catch glimpses of the maids, their faces radiant with a certain glow, clearly having been "nurtured." She'd also seen An Miaoli and An Yuyi emerging from the Holy Son Hall.

An Yuyi's cheeks were always flushed, sparking speculation, but An Miaoli maintained an air of serene dignity, as if untouched by worldly matters. It left Mo Yuzhu wondering if she was overthinking things.

"Let's go," Ye Chen said lightly, gliding toward the mountainside of Ascension Peak. Mo Yuzhu hurriedly followed.

Though her cultivation and perception couldn't fully grasp it, Mo Yuzhu sensed a subtle shift in her Holy Son's presence. His aura had grown even more regal, his every gesture carrying the weight of a great figure, like the Holy Lord himself. This only deepened her conviction that she'd made the right choice in joining him.

The Holy Son was no fallen prodigy like Zhong Yong, as the outside world claimed. Quite the opposite—he was destined to rival the First Holy Son and perhaps even vie for the position of Holy Lord.

When Ye Chen arrived at the mountainside of Ascension Peak, he was momentarily stunned by the sight before him. The crowd was a dazzling array of colorfully dressed women, few of whom wore the standard Holy Land disciple robes. Every single one was a female cultivator. It dawned on him that his earlier decision to recruit only female disciples must have sparked rumors in the outside world.

But Ye Chen didn't care. In the cultivation world, strength was everything. Without it, no one would take you seriously, no matter what you said. But once your power reached its peak, even the most notorious flaws could be reframed as charming quirks.

History was full of examples—True Immortals who, in their youth, were ruthless or played with the hearts of two Holy Maidens, drawing the scorn of their era's prodigies. Yet, when they stood at the pinnacle, those flaws became mere anecdotes, even spun into reasonable tales by scholars who found justifications for their every action. So, Ye Chen would do as he pleased, unbothered by gossip. In time, others would naturally polish his reputation for him.

"Greetings, Holy Son!" The female disciples bowed in unison as he appeared, their faces alight with excitement, practically lining up as if ready to introduce themselves one by one with their names and hometowns.

Ye Chen scanned the group, his brow furrowing slightly. The quality of this batch was noticeably lower than the last. Most couldn't even meet the basic threshold for triggering potential multipliers. Just what kind of rumors had the outside world spread about him? Why were even the most mediocre candidates flocking to Ascension Peak?

After a careful sweep, Ye Chen selected only two. The first was a Foundation Establishment stage disciple who looked like a delicate, pure-hearted loli. He chose her not for her appearance but because she had a potential multiplier of five hundred.

The second was a Golden Core stage cultivator, strikingly beautiful but with an eerie, almost sinister aura. She was a rare Gu cultivator, with a multiplier of three hundred.

With his system, Ye Chen could master any skill without wasting time, so he was curious about unorthodox paths like Gu Dao. They might prove useful in the future—or, at worst, it wouldn't hurt to have the knowledge. As he saw it: I may not need it, but I can't afford not to have it.

Seeing that Ye Chen picked only two, the remaining female cultivators were visibly disappointed, whispering among themselves about the Holy Son's preferences.

Ye Chen paid their thoughts no mind. He instructed Mo Yuzhu to take the two selected disciples up the mountain to arrange their accommodations, then flew straight toward Dao Evolution Peak.

Dao Evolution Peak was one of the forty-nine main peaks of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, renowned for its mastery of the art of divination. Its peak master, Elder He, was said to have unmatched skill in this field. Over the past year, Ye Chen had wanted to seek his help, but the elder had been in seclusion. Now that he was finally available, it was the perfect time to ask him to divine the whereabouts of Ye Chen's father and master.

The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land was vast, with Ascension Peak lying tens of thousands of miles from Dao Evolution Peak. But for Ye Chen, the journey took mere moments. In the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he arrived at Dao Evolution Peak and flew directly to its summit. The guardian elder was about to reprimand him but froze upon sensing Ye Chen's aura, swallowing his words. After learning Ye Chen's purpose, the elder personally escorted him to the peak's summit.

The sight that greeted Ye Chen was a sprawling complex of grand palaces, arranged in an intricate pattern resembling a massive yin-yang fish. After the guardian elder announced his arrival, the largest central palace's doors swung open, and an unfriendly voice called out, "Come in!"

Ye Chen offered a polite smile of thanks to the elder and strode into the palace. Inside, countless candles blazed, illuminating a floor forged from divine metals, etched with constellations and intricate divine runes that gave the space an otherworldly air, like a vast formation diagram. At its center stood an old man in a cyan Taoist robe, eyeing Ye Chen with clear displeasure.

"You're that Fourth Holy Son, the one with the Heavy Pupils and the Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques, a prodigy comparable to Hua Yunfei?" the old man asked, his tone sharp.

Ye Chen, aware that he was seeking a favor from a mighty Integration Realm expert, bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Elder He. I am indeed Ye Chen."

Elder He gave him a cold glance. "Another Holy Son who looks down on our Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture… A Holy Son of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, not cultivating our own scripture, yet coming to beg for a divination. In the entire cultivation world, only our Holy Land's scripture is scorned by its own disciples! Every Holy Son who's made a name for themselves out there isn't a successor of the Heavenly Evolution Ancestor, nor do they practice our scripture. Utterly laughable!"

Ye Chen was speechless.

When did I ever say I looked down on the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture? No one's even offered it to me…