ISWI Chapter 328-330

Chapter 328: Ancient Immortal Clan!

Seeing his senior sister's genuine joy, Ye Chen couldn't help but smile. "Senior Sister, come with me to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. Once there, I'll establish my own Holy Son Peak, and I'll be in charge of everything. You can cultivate there as a disciple of the peak."

For any cultivator, the chance to enter the Holy Land was a dream come true. Yao Xi's eyes sparkled with longing at the offer, but she soon shook her head with a gentle smile, straightening Ye Chen's collar as she spoke. "Junior Brother, I won't go…"

Ye Chen was taken aback.

Yao Xi smiled openly. "Before I met you, I was always chasing the immortal path, thinking I might one day have a chance to shine. When we first met, I thought you were just some rich playboy toying with female cultivators, so I tricked you a few times. But later, my pursuit of the Dao faded. I realized that no matter how hard I tried, or how much you gave me, I could never keep up with you or become a prodigy.

"For example, despite all the treasures you gave me, I still only formed an eighth-grade Golden Core. If it were someone else, they'd probably have formed a ninth-grade one, right? The higher you climb in cultivation, the harder it gets, and I know I'll struggle to take the next step. So, I'd rather stay here, not distracting you. As long as you occasionally remember your senior sister waiting for you at the Green Cloud Sect and come see me when you do, that's enough."

What Yao Xi didn't say was that her decision to give up stemmed largely from Ye Chen. After witnessing his monstrous talent, it was hard not to doubt herself. She even felt a touch of inferiority. The gap between them was growing ever wider, and the women around Ye Chen were of increasingly lofty status—Divine Will Sect's grand elder, the empress of the Great Chu Dynasty, and surely, in the future, Holy Sons and Holy Maidens from Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. All were top-tier fairies.

She felt she couldn't compare to them, not even worthy to stand by their side. Since she couldn't catch up, she'd rather stay in place, quietly waiting.

Ye Chen frowned at her words. "Why so discouraged, Senior Sister? If you can reach Golden Core, you can reach Nascent Soul. I'll help elevate your spiritual root to Heavenly grade and find you a suitable immortal scripture to cultivate. When that happens, forget Nascent Soul or Deity Transformation—becoming an immortal or ancestor won't be out of reach."

Yao Xi smiled, assuming Ye Chen was just comforting her. He immediately moved to take out a Soul-Swaying Divine Stone to prove it, but before he could speak, he was silenced again. Senior Sister gently lowered herself, like a full moon descending into a valley, giving him no chance to talk.

...

Several days passed before Ye Chen finally had a moment to speak. But at that instant, his eyes narrowed, and he looked into the distance. His gaze pierced through the seclusion chamber, spotting a war chariot thundering toward them from afar. The chariot was pulled by celestial horses, their wings shimmering with divine grace, each at the peak of the Golden Core stage. The wheels blazed with divine fire, leaving two fiery trails across the sky that lingered long after.

Atop the chariot stood a heroic young man, his aura brimming with aggression, charging straight for the Green Cloud Sect.

Was he coming for Ye Chen? Perhaps having heard of his Holy Son status, he sought a challenge? Ye Chen had heard that top-tier prodigies often challenged each other to hone their skills, elevate themselves, and vie for fame—not just for reputation, but to forge an invincible momentum.

Ye Chen's brows furrowed. He had no interest in such games. To him, nothing was more valuable than gifting. Sparring with prodigies to gain battle experience? Why bother when he could gift instead? Who knows—maybe one day he'd trigger a critical hit and gain the battle experience of a Heavenly Emperor.

So, these prodigy duels? He couldn't care less.

Just as Ye Chen prepared to fly out, the man halted his war chariot above the Green Cloud Sect's gate, his voice booming like thunder from the heavens: "Where is Yao Xi?"

The entire Green Cloud Sect seemed to tremble under the weight of his words.

Ye Chen paused, taken aback. He was here for Senior Sister? Did she know someone this powerful?

Yao Xi, her face flushed like rouge dissolving in a stream, was equally stunned. She didn't recognize the voice. Without hesitation, Ye Chen took her hand and flew out to confront the situation.

Seeing no response, the man on the chariot produced a mirror. He pricked his palm, letting a drop of blood fall onto its surface. A strange ripple emanated from the mirror.

In that moment, Yao Xi's expression shifted. Her blood surged within her, and a faint purple divine light rose above her head.

Ye Chen's brows furrowed, his Heavy Pupils activating. He saw her blood roiling, and deep within, there seemed to be an extremely faint, special power—something faintly familiar, but so subtle that only his Heavy Pupils could detect it.

The man on the chariot, spotting the purple light, broke into a smile. He extended a massive hand, declaring, "Yao Xi, come with me!"

His hand was terrifying, as if the very void recoiled from it. The Green Cloud Sect's protective array, capable of withstanding a Nascent Soul cultivator, flared to life but shattered in less than a moment under the force of his grasp, which reached straight for Yao Xi.

Ye Chen's face turned icy. He pointed a finger, and a beam of golden dragon qi shot out, instantly obliterating the giant hand.

Sensing the disruption, the man on the chariot narrowed his eyes, his black hair whipping wildly, his gaze gleaming with intensity.

Holding Yao Xi's slender waist, Ye Chen floated into the sky, confronting him.

The man raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"

Ye Chen replied calmly, "The new Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land—Ye Chen."

He had no interest in playing the game of hiding his strength to slap faces later. Declaring his identity upfront would save the most trouble.

The man showed no fear, only a flicker of curiosity in his eyes, even a hint of eagerness to test himself. But, recalling his mission, he restrained himself and pointed at Yao Xi. "She is of our Yao Clan. I'm taking her back to the family. Holy Son, don't meddle in our affairs."

Yao Xi was stunned. What Yao Clan? She had parents and returned to visit them every six months. How could she belong to another family? Could this man have mistaken her for someone else?

Ye Chen, however, narrowed his eyes. There were many Yao families in the Great Yan Continent, but only one stood out as truly renowned—the Yao Clan, one of the three Holy Land-level forces. Unlike Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, which was a sect, the Yao Clan was an ancient immortal family, one that had once produced an immortal. The man's lack of fear upon hearing Ye Chen's identity suggested he came from a force of equal standing.

Was Yao Xi really a member of the Yao Clan?

Recalling the faint, familiar power he'd glimpsed in the depths of Yao Xi's bloodline with his Heavy Pupils, Ye Chen felt it was likely true.

"Explain clearly," Ye Chen demanded.

The man sneered. "Across the entire cultivation world, only your Heavenly Evolution Holy Land churns out three or four Holy Sons per generation, treating them like common cabbages. Everyone knows that, aside from Hua Yunfei, the other Heavenly Evolution Holy Sons are worthless. You, Ye Chen, the fourth Holy Son? Don't push your luck. Get lost!"

The man's arrogance was palpable, his gaze icy. He acknowledged Ye Chen as a prodigy, but so what? He was a prodigy too, and at the late Nascent Soul stage, his cultivation far surpassed Ye Chen's. Crushing a fourth Holy Son like Ye Chen would be child's play.

Ye Chen didn't get angry. He simply raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap.

If the man wouldn't listen to reason, Ye Chen would beat him until he did.

Chapter 329: Top-Tier Nascent Soul Phenomenon!

Ye Chen had always believed in one simple truth: there's no such thing as someone who can't speak reasonably. If they're not talking sense, it's not that they can't—it's that they won't. Beat them into submission, and they'll listen.

With a single slap, a massive purple-gold palm surged forth, vast enough to blot out the sky, crashing toward the man and his chariot. Ye Chen's current strength was terrifying. Even a casual strike carried devastating power, as if he could tear down the heavens with a gesture.

Yet the man atop the chariot stood unfazed, his face showing no fear, only eagerness. "Ye the Fourth, since you dare make a move, let's see if your Heavy Pupils are as formidable as they say. The Heavy Pupil is one of the strongest physiques, but its power depends on the wielder."

Brimming with battle intent, the man radiated confidence as he faced the descending giant palm. He threw a punch, unleashing a torrent of purple divine radiance, surging like rivers and mountains, unstoppable and ferocious. The sound of his fist roared like a tsunami, wave after wave, boundless and terrifying.

In an instant, it collided with Ye Chen's Heaven-Destroying Hand, unleashing a cataclysmic shockwave. The sky itself seemed on the verge of collapsing.

The man steered his chariot through the chaotic currents, his imposing figure standing coldly atop it, staring down at Ye Chen. "In the Great Yan Continent, I only respect my elder brother, the one with the richest immortal blood in our Yao Clan in ten thousand years. Even Hua Yunfei is destined to be suppressed by him. Today, I'll start by crushing you, the fourth Holy Son, and show you the terror of the Yao Clan."

His presence was domineering, exuding an immortal aura. His physique was extraordinarily formidable.

Ye Chen gazed at him impassively, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. Ye the Fourth? What a knack for nicknames.

This man knew Ye Chen's identity and his Heavy Pupils, yet still dared to act so arrogantly. Clearly, he had some real ability.

Staring at the war chariot charging like a meteor, Ye Chen's lips curled into a cold smirk. A divine light flashed from his brow, and in the next moment, he summoned the resplendent Heavenly Emperor War Chariot.

Still holding Yao Xi, who was slightly flustered but trying to remain composed as she leaned against him, Ye Chen stepped forward, ascending the chariot with her. With a thunderous roar, the Heavenly Emperor War Chariot surged upward, not dodging but meeting the incoming chariot head-on.

The man sneered. His chariot, forged by his clan from over a hundred rare metals and infused with vast amounts of Golden Crow Essence Gold, was a masterpiece. And Ye Chen's chariot? Some shoddy thing, daring to collide with his? Did Ye Chen not understand the might of an ancient immortal clan? The weight of their legacy? Had his new status as Holy Son gone to his head?

A cold glint flashed in the man's eyes as he urged his chariot faster. The peak Golden Core celestial horses roared, nearly merging with the chariot, intent on smashing Ye Chen's to pieces and giving this new Holy Son a taste of an immortal clan's power.

In an instant, the two chariots collided with earth-shattering force, as if two planets had crashed together. The impact was deafening, the void itself splitting apart.

The man's body, along with countless twisted fragments of divine metal and the mangled flesh of his celestial horses, was sent hurtling backward. Purple blood sprayed like rain.

After flying back a hundred miles, the gaping wound on his chest rapidly healed. But his eyes were wide with disbelief. His chariot—crafted at his brother's behest after much pleading—was shattered?

Those divine celestial horses, bearing a trace of Roaring Beast bloodline, which he had painstakingly captured and tamed, were gone? He had planned to ride this chariot to impress the Divine Maiden of the Heavenly Desire Sect at her upcoming debut, hoping to win her favor. And now it was destroyed?

He had heard rumors that the new Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land was blessed with heaven-defying fortune, rising from a small sect to seize prodigy-level opportunities, as if favored by the heavens themselves. He hadn't believed it before, but now, he was starting to understand.

The man's heart ached as he glared at Ye Chen, who looked down at him from his chariot. His voice was icy. "Ye the Fourth, you've thoroughly enraged me. You destroyed my chariot, so I'll take yours as compensation. Even your Protector won't have anything to say about it."

With those words, purple qi surged from his body, piercing the heavens, his hair standing on end. Most striking was the divine light shooting from his dantian, projecting an illusory array diagram. It emanated a peculiar rhythm, influencing the surrounding space and suppressing Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's eyes narrowed. This was a Nascent Soul phenomenon, a void array diagram with the power to lock space and immobilize enemies. Such phenomena, with their unique abilities, were exclusive to the most talented Nascent Soul cultivators.

The man charged, unleashing a barrage of punches. Purple fist qi roared like mountains and rivers, boundless and relentless, his entire being radiating the terror of an ancient immortal god.

Ye Chen remained calm, his mind stirring. A beam of divine light shot from his dantian, and above his head, a golden Kun Peng spread its wings, vast enough to blot out the sky, gazing down coldly at the man. The phenomenon's power, which had locked the void and suppressed Ye Chen, shattered instantly.

This was Ye Chen's eighth phenomenon—the Kun Peng Phenomenon. It had formed after he comprehended the Kun Peng Treasure Technique and refined the combat experience of the Vicious Ten' Kun Peng at the Nascent Soul stage. Even among prodigy Nascent Soul cultivators, most could only manifest a single phenomenon. Ye Chen, however, had manifested seven during his breakthrough to Nascent Soul.

Typically, phenomena only emerged alongside the Nascent Soul during the breakthrough, with new ones almost impossible to form afterward. Yet Ye Chen's Nascent Soul continued to generate them.

He speculated this was tied to his Chaos Golden Core and his cultivation of the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art, along with consuming the Shakyamuni Fruit before his breakthrough.

Dealing with this man? A single phenomenon would suffice.

With the emergence of the Kun Peng Phenomenon, its overwhelming might rendered the opponent's phenomenon utterly ineffective.

Ye Chen stood aloft, gazing down at the man with an air of supreme dominance. The barrage of fist shadows, vast as rivers and mountains, surged toward him, but Ye Chen didn't even bother to block. The Heavenly Emperor War Chariot blazed with divine light, effortlessly shattering the onslaught.

In the next moment, the chariot thundered forward once more.

The man's expression shifted as he tried to escape into the void, but the combined force of the chariot and the Kun Peng Phenomenon locked him in place. The void, which he could normally enter with ease, now refused him even a single step. His face paled.

A second later, the chariot struck again, sending him hurtling through the sky, purple blood raining across the heavens.

This time, the man barely managed to heal his wounds, his eyes filled with shock. He wasn't surprised that Ye Chen possessed a Nascent Soul phenomenon—many prodigies did. But he hadn't expected Ye Chen's phenomenon to be the ancient Vicious Ten' Kun Peng.

Phenomena varied in quality. The weakest might manifest as mere grass or petals—somewhat mystical, but not particularly impressive. Stronger ones featured celestial bodies like the sun or moon, such as his own array diagram. Even higher were composite phenomena, considered among the most elite, exclusive to top-tier Holy Sons—visions like a bright moon over a green lotus or a great sun setting behind golden mountains.

The Vicious Ten phenomena, like the Kun Peng, were naturally among these top-tier visions.

The man's heart trembled with shock. This fourth Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land… he truly seemed to possess the same caliber as his elder brother or Hua Yunfei—a true top-tier Holy Son!

Chapter 330: The Void Mirror!

The man's face twisted with displeasure. He wanted to back off but couldn't bring himself to do so. His brand-new chariot was shattered, and Ye Chen, holding a beauty and looking down at him from his chariot with an air of supreme dominance, only fueled his frustration. The more he thought about retreating, the angrier he became.

As a scion of an ancient immortal clan, he had never suffered such a loss since stepping into the world. If he let this slide, wouldn't he become the first stepping stone in Ye Chen's rise to fame?

Gritting his teeth, the man raised the divine mirror he had used earlier, the one that had revealed Yao Xi's bloodline with a drop of his blood. His eyes burned with resolve to suppress Ye Chen. As he poured his spiritual qi into it, the mirror, adorned with ancient array patterns, erupted with a heaven-destroying aura.

The void within a ten-thousand-mile radius froze, and the flow of the world seemed to halt. A vast power of the void coalesced on the mirror's surface, locking onto Ye Chen with an intensely dangerous presence.

Yao Xi sensed it, her heart trembling, but she didn't try to flee. Instead, she clung tightly to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's eyes narrowed. He had seen the mirror before—it was merely a top-grade spiritual treasure. Yet its power far exceeded that level. The Yao Clan… a mirror… He had a faint guess about its identity, but his expression remained calm.

In the next moment, a brilliant divine light burst from his brow.

...

High above, two figures with terrifying auras sat cross-legged, facing each other. A small table between them wafted with the fragrance of tea. One was Elder Mo, Ye Chen's Protector. The other was a clan elder from the Yao Clan, the man's Protector.

The Yao Clan elder had been frowning while sipping his tea, distracted by his young master's brutal beating, ready to intervene if things turned dire. But now, seeing the young master wield the mirror, he relaxed and looked at Elder Mo calmly. "Fellow Daoist Mo, you'd better act soon. That's the Void Mirror. Though it's only a replica, a top-grade spiritual treasure, it's been kept near the true immortal artifact for centuries, absorbing its aura. Its power is beyond imagination."

To his surprise, Elder Mo merely glanced at the scene and continued sipping his tea, seemingly unconcerned. As a Unity Realm cultivator, every such figure was a titan in their own right. The Yao Clan elder, noting Mo's composure, sensed something unusual. Could the fourth Holy Son, a mere early Nascent Soul cultivator, really handle a replica of the Void Mirror?

He set down his tea, turning his attention to the battlefield, wary of any unexpected turns.

Staring at the divine mirror, Ye Chen's expression remained calm as a divine light flashed from his brow once more. In the next moment, a small bell wreathed in boundless Black Yellow Primordial Essence floated out. With a gentle shake, a resonant chime echoed through the heavens and earth.

The man's brows furrowed. The Black Yellow Primordial Essence Bell—he had heard of it before, but seeing it now, he realized its grandeur and extraordinariness. It was indeed forged entirely from Black Yellow Primordial Essence, adorned with endless divine runes, clearly a supreme treasure with limitless potential.

Yet, the man gritted his teeth and poured more power into his replica Void Mirror. No matter how terrifying the Black Yellow Primordial Essence was, his mirror, crafted from top-tier immortal gold and imbued with the aura of an immortal artifact for a century, was no less formidable. How could Ye Chen's bell possibly withstand it?

The mirror's aura reached its peak, unleashing a terrifying beam of void-infused divine light that shot toward Ye Chen. The surrounding world trembled, cracks spiderwebbing through the void.

Ye Chen's expression didn't waver. The small bell spun, releasing a cascade of Black Yellow Primordial Essence that surged forward, clashing directly with the void divine light.

At the moment of contact, the bell paused briefly. But then, the divine runes on its surface ignited, radiating blinding light. A myriad of profound energies erupted, and the void divine light could no longer hold, shattering inch by inch. The bell, unstoppable, obliterated the divine light and hurtled toward the man.

His face paled, eyes wide with disbelief. The replica Void Mirror, now dim after unleashing its light, rose to meet the bell. But a replica was just that—a replica. Even after a century of basking in an immortal artifact's aura, it remained a mere imitation. The clash resounded with the sound of shattering glass as the mirror broke apart.

The man spat blood, staring in shock at the bell, which continued its relentless advance. He couldn't comprehend it—how could he be losing?

Ye Chen, however, wasn't surprised. A mere replica dared to challenge his Black Yellow Primordial Essence Bell, tempered by heavenly tribulation, infused with his lifetime of insights, divine runes, immortal scriptures, treasure techniques, and the profound laws of top-tier bloodline Divine Abilities? It never stood a chance.

The man had played all his cards and was now vulnerable to a single strike. But Ye Chen held back from killing him. The man had come for Yao Xi, claiming she was part of the Yao Clan. Ye Chen needed answers.

The bell returned, and the Heavenly Emperor War Chariot surged forward, its speed amplified by the Kun Peng Phenomenon. In an instant, the man was struck again, purple blood raining across the sky as half his chest caved in. As he tried to heal and escape into the void, Ye Chen waved his hand, pulling the man before him.

In the void, Elder Mo continued sipping his tea calmly, savoring the shifting expressions on the Yao Clan elder's face.

Protectors like them had a certain camaraderie. While the prodigies below fought fiercely, Protectors would gather to chat, sip tea, reminisce about old times, and catch up on recent events—discussing who from their generation had passed away or who had stumbled into some miraculous fortune and advanced further. Most Protectors, after all, were those whose paths had reached their end.

The major Holy Lands, ancient immortal clans, and undying dynasties rarely fought to the death. Each was backed by immortal artifacts, and without a true immortal emerging, none could destroy another. So, aside from chatting, watching the other's sour expression was a source of amusement.

The Yao Clan elder's face was indeed sour, much to Mo's delight. When the replica Void Mirror shattered and Ye Chen's chariot barreled toward the young man, the Yao elder had nearly intervened. But noticing Ye Chen held back, showing no intent to kill, and glancing at Yao Xi by his side, the elder's expression softened. A faint smile even curved his lips.

Mo was puzzled. The Yao Clan's prized prodigy had been thoroughly dominated, and yet the elder was smiling?

The Yao Clan elder sighed with admiration. "This fourth Holy Son is truly favored by the heavens. The Black Yellow Primordial Essence Bell is already extraordinary, but I sensed the auras of multiple immortal scriptures and Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques within its divine runes. His fortune is staggering, perhaps even surpassing Hua Yunfei's. If he matures, he'll be no less formidable than Hua Yunfei. But it seems he's dao partners with our clan's Holy Maiden."

A sly glint appeared in his eyes. "We should foster closer ties. Whatever Heavenly Evolution Holy Land can offer, our Yao Clan can match—perhaps even exceed. After all, if he becomes our clan's son-in-law, he's family."

Elder Mo's lips twitched. "Your clan's Holy Maiden died not long ago. The selection for the new one hasn't even been decided."

The Yao Clan elder, still smiling, sipped his tea. "Since Yao Xi is Ye Chen's dao partner, why not give her the Holy Maiden title? The women we've left scattered outside are of average talent anyway. If we choose Yao Xi, we might even get a Black Yellow Primordial Essence Bell as a betrothal gift. That's a massive win!"

Mo's face darkened. After all these years, this old fox was still shameless as ever.