ISWI Chapter 326-327

Chapter 326: Eldest Senior Sister Formed Her Core!

The next day, Ye Chen summoned a top-grade skyship and set off with the group of women aboard.

The Divine Will Ancestor and Ancestor Liu watched the departing skyship, both letting out involuntary sighs. In their youth, they too had been considered prodigies in the eyes of those around them. But compared to a true top-tier prodigy like Ye Chen, they were nothing.

When Ancestor Liu first broke through to Nascent Soul, he had harbored grand ambitions, believing he was a late bloomer with a chance to climb higher on the immortal path. But after witnessing Ye Chen's heavenly tribulation, his drive to strive had faded. What was the point of effort when a single glance from someone like Ye Chen could overpower him? So, Ancestor Liu decided to enjoy his remaining years and focus on nurturing the next generation.

As for the Divine Will Ancestor, who had recently declared "Don't bully the old and poor," he had already taken out the fishing rod Ye Chen gifted him, ready to find a pond to fish in.

...

Ye Chen was unaware that his presence had led the two ancestors to give up and settle for a quiet life. But even if he knew, he'd think they made the right choice. Why struggle only to realize you're outmatched? Better to accept reality early and enjoy life than waste time on futile cultivation.

As for Ye Chen himself, his body now radiated a blend of imperial and true dragon aura, exuding an unmatched dominance. This was because he had begun cultivating the Nascent Soul chapter of the Great Emperor Scripture. Though he had only just started, he could already sense its profound mysteries.

The scripture's most remarkable feature was its ability to continuously strengthen the Nascent Soul, transforming it into a great dragon that surpassed the limits of the Nascent Soul stage. Beyond its terrifying combat potential, it also laid an extraordinary foundation for cultivating the Heaven and Earth Dharma Form after breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage.

Moreover, when the ancient Great Emperor created the Great Emperor Scripture, he must have studied the True Dragon Treasure Technique. The two complemented each other perfectly, deepening Ye Chen's insights into the True Dragon Treasure Technique.

Beyond his daily cultivation of the Great Emperor Scripture, Ye Chen was also practicing the Kun Peng Treasure Technique. With the combat experience of the ancient Vicious Ten' Kun Peng at the Nascent Soul stage embedded in his mind, he had gained a fresh perspective on battle itself. This allowed him to unleash his full combat potential in actual fights.

Additionally, the Kun Peng's experience aided his comprehension of the Kun Peng Treasure Technique. Paired with his Kun Peng Wings, it elevated his speed to terrifying new heights.

Already formidable in combat, Ye Chen was growing stronger at an astonishing pace.

The skyship was remarkably swift, reaching the Green Cloud Sect in just a single day.

Only Sun Ruoxin and Sun Ye planned to disembark. The other women chose to remain on the skyship. Sun Ruoxin wanted to revisit the place where she had once lived on Sword Peak, while Sun Ye intended to catch up with old friends—not to boast about becoming a subordinate of the Holy Son or his daughter being one of Ye Chen's women, but simply to chat, reminisce about old times, and share recent happenings.

Ye Chen escorted the two off the skyship, which then automatically ascended and vanished into the void.

The old sect master had already received news of Ye Chen's return and was waiting at the gate with a group of elders. Their gazes, fixed on Ye Chen, were filled with disbelief.

"Ye Chen, you… reached Nascent Soul? And became the Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land?"

News of the great battle at the Divine Will Sect had spread widely, and nearby factions had heard of a prodigy named Ye Chen, bearer of the Heavy Pupils, who had become the Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land.

Still, the old sect master found it hard to believe. Ye Chen breaking through to Nascent Soul was one thing, but becoming the Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land? That was almost unimaginable.

Ye Chen smiled lightly. "Indeed, I've broken through to Nascent Soul and become the Holy Son, with the authority to establish my own peak. I've returned this time to bring Senior Sister to the Holy Land."

"Eh? Where's Senior Sister?" Scanning the crowd, Ye Chen noticed Yao Xi's absence—no sign of her familiar, radiant presence.

This struck him as odd. Knowing his senior sister's personality, she'd have likely prepared sweet syrup and been waiting at the gate the moment she heard of his return.

The old sect master's expression was complex, a faint smile appearing before it turned to a hint of frustration. "Yao Xi is in seclusion, breaking through to the Golden Core stage. She's been in retreat for over eight months and should be emerging soon."

Ye Chen's eyes lit up at the news. His senior sister was about to break through? That was excellent news. The last time he left, he had given her an Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core, top-tier Golden Core formation treasures, and countless other resources without holding back. Her breakthrough was assured—it was just a matter of waiting a few more days.

With his ongoing study of the Kun Peng Treasure Technique and Great Emperor Scripture, Ye Chen was in no rush. He could also sense the old sect master's frustration. In the past, the old man had been the sect's sole Golden Core cultivator, holding things together.

In recent years, talents had emerged one after another—his master had formed a core, Ye Chen had formed a core, and now his senior sister was doing the same. But just as they achieved their breakthroughs, they were leaving. Not one could be kept. It was only natural for the old man to feel a bit dejected.

Ye Chen pondered for a moment before his gaze settled on Fa Zhen in the crowd.

Fa Zhen, sensing Ye Chen's attention, respectfully bowed. Back then, Fa Zhen had been the sect's top disciple, brimming with confidence. But after being thoroughly defeated by Ye Chen in the arena, he had faced one setback after another. When he broke through to Foundation Establishment, he still dreamed of catching up to Ye Chen.

Yet, the gap only widened. He had witnessed Ye Chen form his Golden Core in person, and now, just a few years later, Ye Chen had not only reached Nascent Soul but had become the Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. Meanwhile, Fa Zhen remained a mere mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator—a speck of dust in comparison, living in an entirely different world.

Ye Chen smiled, a touch of nostalgia in his eyes. He then produced three Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core, several bottles of Golden Core formation elixirs, and three sets of top-tier Golden Core formation treasures, handing them to the old sect master. Through a transmitted message, he explained their uses. He also gifted Fa Zhen a bottle of Glazed Purification Water.

"Use this, and you'll break through to late Foundation Establishment, preparing you for the Golden Core stage," Ye Chen said. "As for the Golden Core formation treasures, you can collect them from the sect master."

Fa Zhen clutched the Glazed Purification Water, his eyes wide with disbelief. The old sect master, holding the Golden Core treasures, felt his pupils constrict. He hurriedly stored them in his storage ring. Each item was priceless—capable of easily creating several Golden Core cultivators.

Ye Chen smiled faintly. In the past, he had to hide such treasures carefully. Now, he no longer needed to.

Looking at the astonished sect master, Ye Chen said with a smile, "Sect Master, though we're leaving, we'll always be part of the Green Cloud Sect. So don't worry. If anything happens, don't hesitate to pull out the tiger's skin and wear it as a coat. And if you encounter someone stubborn, just crush the talisman I left you—I'll rush back immediately."

Throughout his cultivation journey, Ye Chen hadn't relied much on the Green Cloud Sect's resources. Yet, his time here had been his most carefree and comfortable. With his master's support and his senior sister's gentle care, he could focus on cultivation and gifting without the constant anxiety he'd felt at Silver Moon Market. For that, he held deep affection for the Green Cloud Sect.

Hearing Ye Chen's words, the old sect master's earlier gloom vanished. His eyes, now filled with emotion, gazed at Ye Chen. The Green Cloud Sect, a mere shallow pond, had truly produced a dragon!

But at the thought of dragons, a trace of regret crossed the sect master's face. "I can't help but think of that two-thousand-pound silver dragon fish that got away… I've been wondering if it had a trace of Azure Dragon bloodline. I vaguely recall its tail shimmering with a hint of azure…"

Chapter 327: The Best Junior Brother in the World!

With Senior Sister still in seclusion, Ye Chen strolled through the Green Cloud Sect alongside the old sect master.

Looking at Sword Peak, still in disarray from his last tribulation, Ye Chen suddenly remembered he hadn't repaired it yet. He made a mental note to invite his Eldest Senior Brother to restore it to its former glory.

The old sect master glanced at Ye Chen and asked, "Any news of your master?"

Ye Chen shook his head. He had consulted his Protector, Elder Mo, but Mo wasn't skilled in divination. Ye Chen planned to seek someone at the Holy Land to divine his master's whereabouts and then go find her. He couldn't possibly wait twenty years to reunite.

The old sect master's expression turned wistful as he gazed at the sky. "Don't delay. Find her as soon as you can. This world changes too quickly, and you never know what unexpected things might happen. You can't predict whether tomorrow or an accident will come first."

He paused, his voice heavy with memory. "I learned that the hard way. Back when I was in the Qi Refining stage, I went on a sect mission. It went wrong, and I got injured. I needed outside help and ended up staying in a market town. The market's master was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and his daughter, also a Qi Refining cultivator, was stronger than me. She treated my wounds, gave me pills, and even joined me to complete the mission.

"I was weak back then, with nothing to offer. She carried the burden, helping me finish the task. In the end, we barely succeeded, but she was gravely injured protecting me. I had to carry her back the whole way. On that journey, she chattered endlessly, talking about so many things. But never once did she say, 'If you were stronger, more capable, maybe I wouldn't have gotten hurt.'

"Later, she told me to come back for her, to ask her father for her hand. I returned to the sect determined to grow stronger, hoping that the next time we went on a mission together, I could tell her, 'I've become strong. I won't let you get hurt again.'

"Five years later, I reached Foundation Establishment and rushed to that market town. But when I arrived, I saw her walking down the street, smiling, with a child in her arms. I asked around and learned the truth. Three years earlier, her father had been poisoned, and the market was on the brink of collapse. To save him, she agreed to marry the son of a powerful cultivator. I watched them for a few days. That man treated her well enough."

The old sect master patted Ye Chen's shoulder, his voice tinged with regret. "Do you think if I had gone to her sooner, maybe asked the Green Cloud Sect's elders to help heal her father, things might have turned out differently? So, young man, don't keep waiting and waiting. Waiting solves nothing."

Ye Chen looked at the old sect master with a hint of surprise, his expression turning thoughtful. The old sect master's words undoubtedly held truth. But what puzzled Ye Chen most was whether the story was real or fabricated.

It sounded genuine—the regret in his voice didn't seem feigned. Yet, with all the talk of junior sisters, senior sisters, and masters before, and now this daughter of a Foundation Establishment market master, Ye Chen couldn't tell what was true. Was it real or not? He genuinely couldn't discern.

Still, he took the old sect master's words to heart. The cultivation world had no rule of law—only the strong prevailed. No one could predict whether an accident or tomorrow would come first. If his master encountered a powerful foe she couldn't match, her swordsmanship, fierce and unrelenting, would drive her to fight to the death with the most ferocious assault.

Ye Chen couldn't bear the thought of that happening. So, he resolved to act. Once he returned to the Holy Land, he'd ask an elder to divine his master's location, find her, and bring her back.

Seeing that Ye Chen understood, the old sect master nodded with satisfaction, picked up his fishing rod, and headed off to fish.

Ye Chen felt a surge of gratitude. He briefly considered sneaking back one day to stock the pond with some impressive spiritual fish—perhaps ones with true dragon bloodline. But on second thought, he dismissed the idea. What if the old sect master got eaten by one? That would turn a kind gesture into a disaster.

As he pondered whether to cultivate next, Ye Chen's brows lifted, and a smile spread across his face. With a flicker, his figure vanished, reappearing on Pill Peak, inside Yao Xi's courtyard.

A surging aura was rapidly climbing. Yao Xi had successfully formed her Golden Core, and her aura was undergoing a transformation. After about a hundred breaths, the transformation ceased. A distinctive Golden Core aura soared into the sky from Pill Peak.

By the sect gate, near the Heavenly Pond, the old sect master sensed the commotion and glanced back. He didn't move, continuing to fish calmly. The youngsters hadn't seen each other in so long—he wasn't about to play third wheel.

After her breakthrough, Yao Xi didn't rush to leave seclusion. Instead, she reflected quietly, marveling that she had finally reached the Golden Core stage. But as she gazed at the eighth-grade Golden Core in her dantian, she shook her head, a mix of joy and disappointment. Her talent was, after all, too mediocre. Despite Junior Brother gifting her treasures that couldn't be bought and supreme techniques, she had still only formed an eighth-grade Golden Core.

Still, it wasn't bad. A Golden Core granted three hundred years of life. Even if Junior Brother only returned every decade or so, she could see him twenty or thirty times in her lifetime. For Yao Xi, that was enough to be content.

But how she wished Junior Brother were here to share the joy of her breakthrough.

As she mused, Yao Xi's brows suddenly furrowed. A presence had appeared in her seclusion chamber. The protective array hadn't been triggered, yet someone had intruded? Her aura surged, eyes snapping open as she formed a hand seal—only to freeze when she saw the familiar, smiling face before her.

Her long lashes trembled, and her clear, beautiful eyes brimmed with delight. "Junior Brother, you're back!"

Ye Chen's lips curved as he wrapped an arm around Yao Xi's slender waist. "Yes, I'm back. Congratulations on your breakthrough, Senior Sister…"

His words were cut off mid-sentence, silenced by her fervor. It was a day of double joy—her breakthrough and Ye Chen's return—and Yao Xi couldn't contain herself. In Ye Chen's mind, her earlier words echoed: "Don't talk, kiss me…"

With Senior Sister so ardent, Ye Chen wasn't about to hold back. Together, they savored the enchanting beauty of the full moon. The seclusion chamber, serene and quiet, soon resonated with the faint sound of flowing water.

...

At the sect gate, by the pond, the old sect master kicked over his empty fish basket in frustration, then pulled out a two-hundred-year-old turtle from his storage bag. Glancing toward Pill Peak, he muttered, "Two days, and they're still not out? Young people's stamina is something else!"

Inside the seclusion chamber, Yao Xi's eyes shimmered with emotion as she gazed at Ye Chen, radiant with joy. "Junior Brother, you've become the Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land? They truly have an eye for talent. You're bound to become a Holy Lord one day, like the ancient emperors and immortals, your name resounding through the cultivation world…"

Upon learning of Ye Chen's recent achievements, Yao Xi showed no shock or disbelief—only genuine, heartfelt joy. To her, every step Ye Chen took seemed only natural. In her heart, her Junior Brother was the best in the world. Without equal.