ISWI Chapter 336-338

Chapter 336: A Good Senior Brother for Life!

With the formalities complete, the projection of the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture faded, though traces of its immortal aura lingered. Holy Lord Feng Baiyu nodded lightly. "Inscribing your name on the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture marks you as a high-ranking member of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. Should you face danger, the scripture will alert us and divine your location for rescue. If you encounter insurmountable trouble, call upon the scripture's true name in your heart to connect with the Holy Land from afar. With this, you are now officially our fourth Holy Son, equal in status to all main peak elders. If issues arise, come to me directly."

As Feng Baiyu's words fell, a top-grade dao artifact bronze bell rang out before the Cloud Summit Divine Palace, its nine resounding tolls like thunderclaps. Countless elders and disciples bowed in unison. "Greetings, Holy Son!"

A Deity Transformation elder stepped forward, his voice booming. "From this day, Ye Chen is the fourth Holy Son of our Holy Land. He is granted an immortal peak to establish his own lineage. Today, it is officially opened, and he may recruit elders and disciples, enjoying all the privileges of the Holy Land…"

As the elder spoke, the ground trembled, and a distant rumble echoed. Thousands of miles away, the seal on a ten-thousand-meter immortal peak shattered, slowly rising into the sky. Immortal cranes circled it, endless seas of clouds parted like garments draped over its waist, and a spiritual spring cascaded like a jade ribbon from its summit. Grand, majestic palaces adorned the peak. This was Ye Chen's Holy Son Peak.

Ye Chen gazed at the towering peak, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Please, Holy Son, bestow a name upon the peak," the elder said earnestly.

Ye Chen considered the cloud-piercing summit briefly before speaking calmly. "Let it be called Ascension Peak."

Becoming an immortal was no easy feat. Despite the cultivation world's boasts of divine bodies, king bodies, and even immortal bodies, ever since the Heavenly Emperor shattered the Jianmu Tree, cutting off the immortal realm's qi, achieving immortality had grown increasingly difficult.

In the last hundred thousand years, almost no one in the cultivation world had ascended. Even cultivators' lifespans had drastically shortened compared to ancient times. Many in this realm held complex feelings toward the Heavenly Emperor—reverence mixed with resentment.

But Ye Chen was different. With his own efforts and the system's aid, he was certain to become an immortal in this era. Not just himself, but the women by his side—he'd help them ascend too. Thus, this peak would be Ascension Peak. All who joined it would have a path to immortality.

The name Ascension Peak elicited varied reactions among the Holy Land's higher-ups. Some admired Ye Chen's bold ambition and towering aspirations. Others thought him arrogant, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator daring to speak of ascension. Yet none voiced their opinions.

Holy Lord Feng Baiyu smiled. "Ascension Peak? Bold indeed! Here's a jade slip containing half a Nascent Soul Immortal Scripture, left by the Chaotic Ancient True Immortal. It's not the renowned complete Chaotic Ancient Immortal Scripture he later perfected, but it's still formidable. I obtained it by chance and now gift it to you as your Holy Son inauguration present. Since you already practice an immortal scripture, you may study it yourself or gift it to another—it's your choice."

With that, a jade slip floated to Ye Chen.

His eyes lit up. What a generous Holy Lord. Coming to the Holy Land was indeed the right move. A half-volume Nascent Soul Immortal Scripture as a casual gift? If he gifted it to someone with a high enough multiplier and triggered a critical hit, it might yield a complete immortal scripture spanning Foundation Establishment to Mahayana. Equipping his companions with such scriptures would be perfect—everyone could cultivate one.

The Holy Lord's generosity was astonishing, but the other elders were no less impressive, each presenting gifts of their own. Ye Chen's talent was undeniable—his Heavy Pupils alone marked him as a peerless prodigy, not to mention his staggering luck. Though Hua Yunfei's presence made succeeding as Holy Lord unlikely, befriending Ye Chen was well worth it.

In the cultivation world, it wasn't just about fighting; connections mattered. The elders' gifts were treasures suitable for the Nascent Soul stage—techniques, elixirs, all of immense value. Lin Qingtan offered a top-grade spiritual treasure robe. Even the second and third Holy Sons, regardless of their private thoughts, presented gifts with courteous attitudes.

Yet, the first Holy Maiden, Dantai Xuan, remained utterly impassive, standing calmly without a hint of reaction. She didn't offer a gift or even engage in casual conversation.

Ye Chen couldn't help but frown inwardly. Was this first Holy Maiden too aloof? He'd gifted her the Northern Emperor War Chariot before, and Hua Yunfei had even delivered her return gift on her behalf. Now, she acted as if they'd never met. Was she another Li Feihuang, incapable of triggering critical hits, taking everything for granted? If so, her 2,000-fold value was severely diminished.

As Ye Chen pondered, his senior brother Hua Yunfei approached, his divine halo glowing dazzlingly. Ye Chen smiled and bowed. Now a Holy Son himself, Hua Yunfei was a rival, and their relationship might grow strained due to competition.

Yet Ye Chen couldn't muster any dislike for him. Graceful, meticulous, warm, and magnanimous, Hua Yunfei was a breath of spring air. His only flaw, if it could be called one, was his gender.

Ye Chen couldn't help but think: if Hua Yunfei were a female cultivator, his multiplier would surely surpass Dantai Xuan's. With his knack for handling matters, he'd likely trigger critical hits often. What a pity. A trace of regret flickered in Ye Chen's expression.

Sensing this, Hua Yunfei found it odd. What was Ye Chen regretting? After a moment's thought, he seemed to guess, chuckling as he patted Ye Chen's shoulder and sent a mental message. "No need to worry about the Holy Lord position. The Holy Lord's just boasting. He only reached the peak of the Unity realm two years ago and loves telling everyone about it, lamenting his 'excessive talent.' He's still far from breaking through to the Mahayana realm. With your aptitude, you'll catch up to me in no time and compete for the Holy Lord seat."

Ye Chen blinked, realizing the misunderstanding. Explaining was tricky—telling the truth might provoke even the good-natured Hua Yunfei to challenge him to a fight. Still, Hua Yunfei's magnanimity only deepened Ye Chen's admiration.

Good senior brother, a friend for life! Even if you're a man and can't trigger gift returns, I'll still send you treasures, pull you along, and help you ascend to immortality!

Chapter 337: Supreme Emotionlessness!

Noticing Ye Chen's expression, Hua Yunfei realized he'd misunderstood. He'd seen Ye Chen's bold style—gifting treasures like the Northern Emperor War Chariot and Kun Peng Imprint without a hint of reluctance. How could he be worried about something as trivial as the Holy Lord position?

With an apologetic smile, Hua Yunfei glanced at Dantai Xuan and sighed. "Don't take the Holy Maiden's attitude to heart. She wasn't always like this. Unfortunately, after inheriting an immortal scripture and cultivating it, her personality changed drastically, becoming what you see now. I'll find a way to help her resolve this issue in the future. When that happens, you'll see she's truly a great senior sister."

Ye Chen was surprised. Dantai Xuan's coldness wasn't innate but caused by cultivating a unique immortal scripture? This revelation made him feel even more regret than she might. He'd initially thought her aloofness could be warmed with persistent gifting—perhaps a shocking treasure to shake her up.

Now, it seemed hopeless. But this was a 2,000-fold multiplier! If she couldn't trigger critical hits, it was a colossal waste. He had to help the first Holy Maiden cure this flaw.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen said, "I'm willing to help too! If there's anything I can do, just let me know, Senior Brother."

Nearby, Dantai Xuan could easily overhear their conversation but showed no reaction, as if utterly indifferent.

Hua Yunfei, surprised by Ye Chen's genuine enthusiasm, smiled more warmly. "We don't have a solution yet, but we'll talk about it in the future. Today's your induction as Holy Son, and as your senior brother, I must offer a gift. This is a star refined by an ancient great power. You can forge it into a weapon or integrate it into an array for your Ascension Peak, bathing it in starlight day and night. It's especially appealing to disciples cultivating star-related techniques or physiques."

With a wave, Hua Yunfei presented a radiant star to Ye Chen, its ancient, weathered aura unmistakable. As a refiner, Ye Chen instantly recognized its value. It could be crafted into a top-tier natal spiritual artifact with immense growth potential, possibly even becoming a dao artifact. Alternatively, it could anchor a supreme array. For star-related cultivators, it was a peerless treasure.

In a flash, Ye Chen knew exactly who to gift it to. This star would be perfect for An Yuyi.

An Yuyi cultivated star-related techniques, making the star a perfect fit. The system's rewards could be placed in Ye Chen's small world, which currently lacked starlight. If the system yielded an authentic star, it would eliminate the need for manually channeling starlight after the star pool's depletion, perfecting the small world. It was an ideal solution.

Ye Chen couldn't help but exclaim, "Senior Brother, you're too generous!"

Hua Yunfei's magnanimity was astounding. Ye Chen suddenly realized why he liked his senior brother so much—who wouldn't warm to someone who gave such lavish gifts? He even half-jokingly wondered if Hua Yunfei had a "good brother gifting system" that rewarded him for giving treasures to male cultivators.

With that, the ceremony neared its end. Hua Yunfei waved casually and rejoined the crowd, standing beside Dantai Xuan. He recalled her early days at the Holy Land—a lively, innocent child he'd treated like a little sister, always trailing him. Now, seeing her like this, he felt deep regret.

Dantai Xuan cultivated an eerie immortal scripture, which Hua Yunfei considered more of a demonic one: the Supreme Scripture. It caused the cultivator to continuously birth a "new self" while killing the "original self," growing stronger but increasingly cold and emotionless.

Worst of all, once started, the scripture couldn't be stopped—a truly sinister trait. Hua Yunfei worried that Dantai Xuan might one day be overtaken by another self or become a vessel for someone else. Yet, even he had no solution.

Holy Lord Feng Baiyu approached, glancing at Dantai Xuan with a complicated expression before shaking his head. The moment passed, and he sent a mental message to Hua Yunfei with a hint of surprise. "Another avatar? It's been decades since I've seen your true body. Even when you slew that Unity realm demon in the East Sea, it was an avatar. Is your true body already at the Unity realm?"

Hua Yunfei smiled and shook his head. "Just a bit short."

Feng Baiyu, unsure whether to believe him, glanced at Ye Chen, still receiving gifts. "The second and third Holy Sons are just here to fill the Holy Land's quota—nothing special. But this fourth Holy Son is truly extraordinary. I can't see through him in many ways. It's not just the Heavy Pupils; there's something else profound about him. With a genius like this, do you feel the pressure?"

Hua Yunfei laughed. "Holy Lord, you jest. Junior Brother Ye and I aren't enemies. My only rival has always been myself. Besides, I'd rather see Junior Sister take the Holy Lord position. Before the Mahayana realm, only the Holy Lord can commune with the immortal artifact. If she could harness its power for cultivation, it might slow her transformation."

He glanced at Dantai Xuan again. Feng Baiyu, hearing this, said no more.

With that, the Holy Son ceremony drew to a close. Countless outer, inner, elite, and direct disciples of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land gazed up at Ye Chen, their hearts filled with admiration for such a cultivator. Many wished they could take his place, thinking, Step down and let me take the stage.

Among the elite disciples, a late Golden Core female cultivator with a slender waist, rounded hips, and dimples on her cheeks stared at Ye Chen with longing. She turned to her friend beside her and declared, "I'm going up there!"

Her friend frowned. "You sure you don't want to think it over?"

The dimpled woman nodded firmly. "No need to think. The Holy Son is unparalleled—I'm going to try!"

She'd heard the tales circulating in the cultivation world, recounted by Yao Gu while drinking and chatting with goddesses in an immortal city. His words had spread like wildfire: "When we clashed, spiritual energy surged, shaking the four seas and eight wastelands, the heavens and earth trembling. The battle was so intense it seemed the world might shatter. In the end, I gave it my all but fell short by a single move. Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's fourth Holy Son is absolutely a peerless prodigy, on par with my brother and that one from Heavenly Intention Holy Land."

The words caused a stir across Great Yan Cotinent. Yao Gu was no weakling—he was Yao Xuanji's brother, with a formidable record and a half-step immortal physique stronger than most. Undefeated until now, he'd lost to Heavenly Evolution's fourth Holy Son, a mere early Nascent Soul cultivator. This showcased Ye Chen's extraordinary might.

The dimpled woman resolved to join Ascension Peak. But her friend tried to dissuade her. "The fourth Holy Son is powerful, no doubt, but he's unlikely to become Holy Lord in the future. You saw he brought outsiders with him, and I've heard he rose from humble origins with no major backing. That makes it hard to guarantee you'll get resources. Why not stay an elite disciple? Build up slowly, and you'll eventually break through to Nascent Soul."

The dimpled woman shook her head. Her aptitude was only an Earth Spiritual Root, and her physique was average. After reaching Golden Core, no elder had taken her as a direct disciple, leaving her as an elite disciple.

The immortal path was grueling—relying on the Holy Land's standard opportunities, Nascent Soul would likely be her limit. After that, she'd become an elder, bogged down by administrative duties, with breaking through to Deity Transformation as difficult as ascending the heavens.

She decided to take a gamble and join the fourth Holy Son's Ascension Peak. Being among the first would surely earn his attention. With no further hesitation, she rose gracefully.

Her friend, seeing this, said no more but shook her head inwardly, convinced it was a mistake her friend would regret.

Chapter 338: The Holy Son's Magnanimity!

The fourth Holy Son's inauguration ceremony concluded. Typically, this was the moment when disciples would step forward to join the Holy Son's peak, showcasing his charisma.

When Hua Yunfei was named Holy Son, numerous prodigies had eagerly pledged to follow him. The second and third Holy Sons, though slightly less talented than Hua Yunfei, had influential elders or clans backing them, attracting disciples as well—some prearranged, others genuine.

Ye Chen, however, was different. His strength was undeniable, but as an outsider with no major faction behind him, he'd brought companions who would likely claim significant resources.

This could weaken Ascension Peak's overall strength, reducing its competitiveness and access to future resources. With Hua Yunfei already dominating the Holy Land, and Ye Chen as an outsider, it was uncertain how much support he'd receive. The Holy Lord position was likely beyond his reach.

Thus, many Holy Land prodigies hesitated, wary of making a poor choice. Ordinary disciples with lesser talent lacked the courage to step forward. For a moment, the scene grew awkward and quiet.

Lin Qingtan, observing this, shook her head inwardly. Having promised Ye Chen to join Ascension Peak, she felt obliged to support him now. She sent a mental message to her disciple, Li Feihuang.

Li Feihuang stood among the direct disciples, her expression complex. She'd known Ye Chen would become Holy Son, but seeing him now, radiating overwhelming presence, receiving gifts from the Holy Lord himself, and being treated as an equal by elders she could only dream of approaching, was jarring. Even Yao Xuanji's brother, Yao Gu, a towering figure in the outside world, admitted inferiority to Ye Chen.

This reality hit Li Feihuang hard. She and Ye Chen were now worlds apart. He stood exalted, basking in the spotlight, while she remained among the direct disciples, looking up at him. She couldn't help but wonder: if she hadn't followed her ancestor's demands and imposed such harsh conditions back then, what would their relationship be like now?

Lost in thought, she received Lin Qingtan's message urging her to support Ye Chen. Li Feihuang had already planned to follow her master to Ascension Peak, but memories of Ye Chen's rejections and indifference left a knot in her heart. Still, the thought passed quickly. Ye Chen was no longer the same person. If she could use this chance to mend ties, it wouldn't be a bad outcome. Let bygones be bygones.

Resolving herself, Li Feihuang looked at Ye Chen, ready to step forward and break the silence. But in that instant, her expression froze in shock. Another figure had beaten her to it, moving faster.

Her body stiffened, her emotions growing even more tangled. She was too late.

Ye Chen wasn't surprised or bothered by the lack of disciples rushing to join Ascension Peak. With his resources—what he privately called his "money power"—he could easily attract the talent he needed. A temporary loss of face? That was trivial. With his current mindset, such things barely registered.

But at that moment, a disciple stepped forward, silencing the crowd. Ye Chen raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. The figure before him was a late Golden Core female disciple, delicate and charming, with dimples gracing her cheeks. Her bright eyes locked onto him, brimming with determination.

In a clear, melodious voice, she declared, "Elite disciple Mo Yuzhu admires the Holy Son's grandeur. Though my aptitude is modest, with only an Earth Spiritual Root and a Sharp Essence Body, I hope the Holy Son will take pity and allow me to cultivate at Ascension Peak."

The crowd was mildly surprised. Mo Yuzhu was somewhat known in the Holy Land, just a step from Nascent Soul, nearly on par with some direct disciples. Her prospects were decent, yet she chose to join the fourth Holy Son's Ascension Peak. If resources proved scarce, she could lose out significantly. Many, like her friend, thought her impulsive, destined to regret her choice. A strong Holy Son didn't guarantee a resource-rich peak—her decision seemed reckless.

Ye Chen studied the first disciple to pledge herself to him. His system automatically displayed her multiplier: "Mo Yuzhu: 300-fold!" Her Sharp Essence Body, a basic fire-aligned physique, paired with an Earth Spiritual Root, wasn't outstanding in the Holy Land. Still, as the first to join him, with a 300-fold return, she could serve as a backup for feedback.

With a gentle smile, Ye Chen said, "Very well. You are the first disciple of Ascension Peak."

Mo Yuzhu's face lit up, her dimples deepening adorably. "Thank you, Holy Son!"

The other disciples weren't surprised that Ye Chen accepted her. With no one else stepping up, it was natural he'd take the first volunteer. But what happened next left them stunned.

Ye Chen casually retrieved the half-volume immortal scripture the Holy Lord had gifted him and, with a flick of his finger, sent the jade slip floating to Mo Yuzhu. "Your Golden Core and spirit sense are well-honed, not far from Nascent Soul. This half-volume immortal scripture is yours to study after your breakthrough. Cultivate diligently."

Mo Yuzhu's eyes widened, disbelief flooding her gaze. She knew exactly what this jade slip was—the Holy Lord's gift to the Holy Son. She'd watched from below, filled with envy. Though only half a scripture, its value to cultivators was immense. Comprehending even a few of its mystic techniques could vastly boost combat strength, with countless other benefits that could pave a longer immortal path. She'd lamented that an elite disciple like her would never glimpse such a treasure, reserved for prodigies like the Holy Son.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, the Holy Son had bestowed it upon her.

Staring up at him, confirming he wasn't jesting or posturing, Mo Yuzhu reached out with trembling hands, reverently accepting the jade slip. Her voice quivered with overwhelming gratitude. "Thank you, Holy Son, for this priceless gift…"

Her excitement was palpable. Ye Chen merely smiled faintly, waving it off.

The entire scene fell silent. Even the Holy Lord was taken aback. A half-volume immortal scripture was extraordinarily precious, yet Ye Chen had given it away so casually. His magnanimity was staggering, sparking intrigue in Feng Baiyu.

Hua Yunfei smiled, unsurprised after witnessing Ye Chen's earlier gifts of the Kun Peng Imprint and Northern Emperor War Chariot. Lin Qingtan, while amazed, cast a disappointed glance at Li Feihuang.

Li Feihuang stood frozen, her graceful figure rigid, her emotions a tangled mess.