ISWI Chapter 315-317

Chapter 315: Child of Destiny?

Under Li Feihuang's stunned gaze, the heavens turned pitch black. Lightning snakes writhed, and a pool of thunder roiled above.

Boom…

The first bolt of tribulation lightning descended with a deafening roar, loud enough to rupture eardrums had the Divine Will Sect's cultivators not already retreated. The sound reverberated like a dragon's cry shaking the nine heavens, overturning the world. A silver lightning bolt, as thick as several people's embrace, crashed down like a thunder dragon aiming straight for Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's expression remained calm. He summoned a small bell, suspending it above his head. Streams of Black Yellow Primordial Essence cascaded from it. This was the perfect moment to reforge the bell, inscribing new divine patterns to elevate it into a spiritual treasure. Though countless eyes watched, with Holy Land elders present and his imminent ascension to Holy Son, Ye Chen had no fear of anyone daring to seize it.

It was like a beggar winning a fortune and guarding it jealously, while a tycoon with millions had no such worries. Moreover, with the Holy Land powerhouses here, Ye Chen wanted to showcase his strength. As a latecomer to the Holy Land, he had no interest in arriving only to face disdain and endless posturing. He wasn't fond of flaunting or slapping faces. After so long in seclusion, he only wished to quietly present his gifts to the Holy Land.

The scene left everyone dumbfounded. A thunderbolt as thick as a giant's embrace, capable of annihilating heaven and earth, and yet Ye Chen chose this moment to refine his life-bound spiritual artifact? Such confidence was staggering.

The seasoned powerhouses of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land narrowed their eyes at the bell.

"Forged entirely from Black Yellow Primordial Essence?" one elder marveled. "I searched for a century and found only a trace. How much Primordial Essence did this new Holy Son use to craft such a bell?"

"Truly worthy of a Holy Son. What fortune! He's undeniably favored by the heavens."

"His luck alone proves his extraordinary destiny."

The bell's appearance ignited the eyes of the powerhouses vying to be Ye Chen's Protector. Such a vast quantity of Black Yellow Primordial Essence was beyond even the Holy Land's reserves. For Ye Chen to possess it before reaching the Nascent Soul stage spoke volumes of his profound fortune.

Ye Chen, however, paid no heed to their reactions. The thunderbolt crashed down, and he stood resolute beneath it, unshaken as lightning danced around him. The divine thunder struck the bell, flowing onto his body. He channeled the lightning's power, tempering both himself and the Black Yellow Primordial Essence bell.

The sight deepened the onlookers' shock. To face such a thunderbolt without defense—was this the mark of a true prodigy? The tribulation lightning, feared by cultivators worldwide, seemed merely a tool for Ye Chen to hone himself, a testament to his unparalleled strength and brilliance.

Boom, boom, boom…

One after another, even more terrifying bolts descended, each thicker and more devastating than the last, like rampant thunder dragons wreaking havoc. The mere sight sent chills down spines, hairs standing on end. No one could imagine facing such a tribulation themselves or what fate would befall them.

Even Tian Mingzi, who had clung to confidence in suppressing Ye Chen, now wavered. He calculated that, by exhausting every trump card and sparing no cost, he might have a seventy percent chance of defeating this Holy Son… maybe.

One after another, the tribulation lightning descended. The ninth bolt was as massive as a small mountain, yet Ye Chen stood unshaken, using the lightning to temper himself and refine his artifact. The charm of the Dao radiating from his every movement left onlookers in awe.

As the ninth bolt finally dissipated, a collective sigh of relief swept through the crowd. An Miaoli's tension eased. Though Ye Chen had handled the ordeal with effortless grace, unscathed throughout, she had remained on edge. Now, with all nine bolts endured, she could finally relax.

But in the next moment, her expression shifted. The tribulation clouds above didn't disperse; instead, they churned with an even more terrifying aura. Another bolt of lightning coalesced, crashing down like a cascading waterfall toward Ye Chen.

An Miaoli and the others were stunned. Wasn't it supposed to be nine bolts? Why was there more?

The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land powerhouses, however, were unsurprised, their gazes fixed intently. For ordinary prodigies, nine bolts were the norm—a standard tribulation. But for supreme talents capable of slaying foes across realms, it was far different.

The First Holy Son, Hua Yunfei, and Holy Maiden, Dantai Xuan, had each endured eighty-one bolts during their Nascent Soul breakthroughs. The other Holy Sons and Maidens had faced thirty-six. The nine bolts were merely the prelude; the true test was just beginning.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, bolt after bolt of divine lightning rained down, each like a river of thunderous liquid, obliterating all in its path. The air thrummed with the roar of thunder, transforming the entire region into a domain of lightning.

Ye Chen's response grew less effortless. His vitality surged, divine flames igniting across his body as he countered the lightning while continuing to refine the Black Yellow Primordial Essence bell. He wove the essence of his Golden Core accumulations—Eternal Cosmos Scripture, True Phoenix Treasure Technique, Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art, and more—into divine patterns, embedding them into the bell.

Soon, thirty-six bolts had fallen. Quiet Wonder Peak beneath Ye Chen's feet was nearly reduced to rubble. Yet the bell above his head glowed with divine radiance, officially ascending to the rank of a top-grade spiritual treasure, its aura extraordinary and otherworldly.

The lightning paused, and An Miaoli exhaled in relief. But before she could fully catch her breath, her pupils constricted. The tribulation clouds above still hadn't dispersed.

Boom, boom, boom…

Even more terrifying bolts descended, no longer silver-white but tinged with blood-red hues. Endless crimson lightning crashed down, and even the Holy Land powerhouses stirred. This new Holy Son was indeed on par with Hua Yunfei and Dantai Xuan.

Ye Chen ceased merely defending. The lightning's terror demanded action. He unleashed the True Dragon Treasure Technique, the True Phoenix Treasure Technique, and the profound arts of immortal scriptures.

With a raised hand, boundless divine light erupted, clashing against the seemingly endless, unimaginably fearsome crimson lightning. He stood alone, as if defying the entire heavens. His black hair whipped wildly, a war god battling the skies, his presence awe-inspiring.

An Miaoli's face paled, her eyes filled with worry.

Tian Mingzi, watching Ye Chen's divine valor, turned ashen. Was this a test for Ye Chen to sharpen himself, or was it sending Tian Mingzi to his doom? Could he, a Deity Transformation cultivator, even survive such a tribulation? If the Holy Land powerhouses didn't intervene, he calculated that by burning his lifespan and fleeing at all costs, he might have a seventy percent chance of escape.

The divine lightning was relentless, giving Ye Chen no respite, dyeing the heavens red. Even someone as mighty as Ye Chen now stood with tattered robes. Were it not for his Nascent Soul ceaselessly drawing in the world's energy and his Supreme Heart continuously replenishing his vitality, he could scarcely have endured.

But at last, when Ye Chen shattered the final crimson bolt with his myriad techniques, the eighty-one bolts of divine lightning came to an end.

Ye Chen's tribulation was over.

Chapter 316: Is Ye Chen Out of His Depth?

The final bolt of tribulation lightning passed, and the powerhouses of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land broke into genuine smiles. Their gazes toward Ye Chen were filled with approval and amazement. His performance was no less impressive than Hua Yunfei's in his time. Though his Myriad Star Body, derived from the Myriad Star Fire, was a postnatal constitution—seemingly inferior to Hua Yunfei's divine physique—Ye Chen's foundation showed signs of surpassing even Hua Yunfei's from back then.

Of course, it was hard to say definitively. Hua Yunfei was notoriously enigmatic, even to these elders. But Ye Chen wielded the True Phoenix Treasure Technique and the True Dragon Treasure Technique, and not just a single move from each. Among his myriad profound arts, the elders even glimpsed traces of the Eternal Cosmos Scripture and the aura of Buddhist treasure techniques. His fortune was staggering.

Ye Chen's origins had already been divined: he hailed from a minor Foundation Establishment family, joined a Golden Core sect, and later served as a guest elder in a Nascent Soul sect. To amass such opportunities in such humble circumstances spoke of heaven-defying luck. This was the mark of a true Child of Destiny.

The elders felt Ye Chen had already proven himself. Their next task was clear: strike down Tian Mingzi before anyone else could, showcasing their strength to secure the role of Ye Chen's Protector.

But at that moment, the heavens stirred again. All eyes turned upward. Even the Holy Land elders were shaken.

The sea of thunder above hadn't dissipated after the eighty-one bolts. Instead, it churned violently, and a cold, piercing gaze locked onto Ye Chen. From the thunderous expanse emerged a colossal Kun Peng, formed entirely of divine lightning. Its wings, each spanning a hundred meters, blotted out the sky when spread. Every feather was crafted from lightning, vivid and lifelike. Its mere presence exuded an unimaginable, terrifying aura, as if it had stepped out of ancient times, brimming with vitality.

Even Hua Yunfei, who had maintained a pleased smile, now looked astonished. "A Kun Peng?"

An elder spoke, voice thick with disbelief. "The True Spirit Tribulation? It's actually the True Spirit Tribulation?"

At those words, shock rippled through the crowd.

If eighty-one bolts of tribulation lightning were a trial reserved for only the most elite prodigies of the Holy Land, then the True Spirit Tribulation was a legend whispered in ancient tales. It was said to manifest when a cultivator's power was so overwhelming that mere divine lightning couldn't suffice to test them.

In ancient times, when mighty cultivators shed their essence blood during tribulations, leaving behind their imprints, the Heavenly Dao could summon these imprints, forged from thunder, to challenge the cultivator.

This was no mere illusion. The summoned spirit wielded the full array of the ancient cultivator's Dao, Laws, and even innate Divine Abilities, perfectly replicated. Legends spoke of the Heavenly Emperor, who, from the Foundation Establishment stage, faced great battles against ancient powerhouses at the end of each tribulation. During his Immortal Ascension Tribulation, he was besieged by the imprints of the ancient Vicious Ten.

And now, Ye Chen faced a True Spirit Tribulation, his opponent a pureblood Kun Peng from its Nascent Soul tribulation—a creature from the Vicious Ten, a race of unimaginable might. Its combat prowess was beyond comprehension. That Ye Chen warranted such a solemn trial from the heavens was nothing short of astonishing.

Yet, amidst the awe, even the Holy Land elders grew apprehensive. Ye Chen was undoubtedly a prodigy, but a pureblood Kun Peng was a terror among terrors, peerless in its realm. Even the greatest human prodigies might falter against such a beast, whose bloodline and inherited legacy granted it an unparalleled edge. For Ye Chen to face it in battle was perilous in the extreme.

As the crowd pondered, the lifelike Kun Peng, brimming with vitality, spread its wings and dove with breathtaking speed, embodying the legendary swiftness of its kind. Ye Chen was caught off guard, blasted backward by the impact.

The sight deepened the onlookers' worry, fearing Ye Chen might fall. Only Tian Mingzi's eyes gleamed with excitement, eagerly anticipating Ye Chen's demise.

Ye Chen, flung back by the strike, glanced at his arm, nearly severed by the Kun Peng's wing. With a thought, his arm healed instantly. Raising his eyes to the charging Kun Peng, he showed no trace of fear—only a blazing battle intent. Since crossing into this world, his enemies had often outclassed him in cultivation, yet none had ever posed a true threat.

Now, facing a Nascent Soul Kun Peng from ancient times, though of the same realm, its terrifying strength was unlike anything he'd encountered. This was his most formidable opponent yet.

But Ye Chen felt no dread. An ancient beast? So be it. He would fight!

This Kun Peng was the perfect whetstone to hone his True Dragon and True Phoenix Treasure Techniques.

Boom, boom, boom…

Without hesitation, Ye Chen sprouted golden wings of divine light from his back and surged forward. He unleashed the True Dragon Treasure Technique, renowned for its unparalleled offensive might, striking with earth-shattering force.

The Kun Peng, catching sight of Ye Chen's wings, erupted with fury. It charged forward, unleashing its Kun Peng Treasure Technique. The two clashed in an instant, divine light flooding the sky. The battlefield roared to life, space itself collapsing as the surroundings teetered on the brink of becoming a desolate wasteland.

At this moment, Nascent Soul cultivators were unfit to even witness the battle. They could see nothing clearly, only hearing the unimaginable sounds of collision, their hearts pounding, their worldviews shaken. Was this truly a fight between early Nascent Soul cultivators?

"I'm at late Nascent Soul, so why can't I do this?" some muttered, dumbfounded.

The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land powerhouses watched with rapt attention, their faces etched with unrelenting shock. "Holy Son Ye has Kun Peng Wings? His fortune is too heaven-defying—is he the Heavenly Dao's own son?" an elder exclaimed, incredulous. Since when could a Nascent Soul cultivator possess such a treasure as Kun Peng Wings? Holy Son Ye was beyond comprehension.

But soon, an elder's expression turned grave. "Though Holy Son Ye wields Kun Peng Wings, his speed still falls short of the true Kun Peng. It's too fast, suppressing him completely. It even evades all Dao and Law techniques. The bloodline of the ancient Vicious Ten is truly terrifying."

This was no surprise. No matter how powerful Kun Peng Wings were, they couldn't match a true Kun Peng. A real Kun Peng was unstoppable, unbreakable, and with its treasure technique, it could dodge nearly anything.

"Holy Son's physical body is formidable, and his recovery is beyond imagination—far surpassing the normal limits of the Myriad Star Body. His constitution likely holds other unique traits," another elder observed. "But he seems to lack experience fighting peers of his caliber. He's being thoroughly suppressed by the Kun Peng, falling into its traps repeatedly."

"Has Holy Son Ye never faced a true life-or-death battle? His combat experience is sorely lacking—he's been baited multiple times!"

"That shouldn't be possible. Without the tempering of blood and fire, how could a Holy Son achieve such strength?"

"That pureblood Kun Peng is too fearsome, and it seems to wield the complete Kun Peng inheritance."

"Holy Son's been blasted back again, but his vitality remains sky-high, showing no signs of weakening…"

"He's getting agitated…"

"No, it's not agitation—his eyes…"

The elders noticed Ye Chen's severe lack of combat experience against prodigies of his level. In Kun Peng's presence, he fought like a novice, relying solely on raw power. Though he hadn't suffered fatal wounds, his robust physique and astonishing recovery healed any injury in moments. But no matter how strong his regeneration, it couldn't last forever—it would eventually run dry. Worse, his mindset seemed off, as if he were truly losing his composure. His eyes were glowing.

Once agitation took hold, he'd fall even deeper into the Kun Peng's rhythm, spelling defeat. The elders grew anxious. A prodigy of this caliber, with such heaven-defying fortune, was a treasure to the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. His loss would be catastrophic. Combat experience could be honed, but talent and luck were irreplaceable.

The elders were frantic. And Ye Chen, at this moment, was indeed losing his cool. Since crossing into this world, he had dominated every opponent, never once being suppressed. This was too humiliating. Initially, he had planned to use the Kun Peng to refine his True Dragon and True Phoenix Treasure Techniques. Now, he abandoned that idea. He just wanted to crush this beast.

His eyes widened abruptly, chaotic energy swirling within. "Heavy Pupils Open the Heavens…"

In an instant, a terrifying force erupted from his eyes, radiating outward.

Chapter 317: Their Heavy Pupils Were Fake!

Ye Chen undeniably lacked experience in true battles against prodigies of his caliber. While combat talent was innate, experience was indispensable. In top-tier sects and Holy Lands, elders imparted a wealth of fighting techniques, and disciples honed their skills through sparring with peers, accumulating vast experience.

Ye Chen, however, had none of that. He had always relied on overwhelming strength to crush his opponents. Now, facing a Nascent Soul Kun Peng with terrifying combat prowess, he found himself in an unprecedented state of being relentlessly suppressed.

And so, Ye Chen lost his patience. No more holding back.

"Heavy Pupils Open the Heavens!"

His eyes erupted with divine light, swirling with boundless mist. In an instant, the battlefield, awash with endless divine lightning, fell silent. All electric radiance was purified, as if a pristine sanctuary had been carved out, enveloping the Kun Peng entirely.

This was the new divine ability unlocked by Ye Chen's Heavy Pupils upon breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage. With the power of his Heavy Pupils, he could create a pure domain, trapping his enemy within. It left them no escape, subjecting them to fearsome suppression. It could also serve as a sanctuary for himself, offering a temporary respite from the battlefield to recover, its uses boundless.

The Kun Peng sensed something amiss, feeling the weight of suppression. With a piercing cry, it spread its wings, transforming into a streak of divine light to flee the domain. Previously, it could traverse any divine ability or technique, unstoppable by any barrier in the world. Yet now, it crashed against the misty edges of the sanctuary, unable to break free no matter how it struggled.

A faint smile curved Ye Chen's lips. With a confident grin, he charged into the sanctuary.

The elders of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land were undeniably worried. If Ye Chen were to fall due to his lack of combat experience, it would be an immense tragedy. Seeing him battered and seemingly on the verge of losing his composure, they couldn't help but sigh. If his mental state wavered, letting frustration take hold, it would only hinder his ability to fight effectively, hastening his defeat.

Their concern deepened, fearing that such a supreme prodigy might perish under the tribulation. But in the next moment, their eyes widened in shock.

Ye Chen wasn't losing his temper—his eyes were extraordinary. Upon closer inspection, they seemed like gateways to an ancient demonic abyss, as if the depths of his gaze connected to the edge of the world, threatening to draw everything into them.

Those divine pupils, known to nearly all but seen by few, left even the Unity-stage elders gasping in disbelief.

"Is that… the Heavy Pupils? One of the supreme bloodline divine abilities?"

"Heavy Pupils bearer, said to appear only once in an era? The Holy Son possesses the Heavy Pupils?"

"How is this possible? Wasn't a Heavy Pupils bearer born in the Ancient Immortal Clan of Central Continent fifty years ago? How could there be a second?"

"That one must be a fraud, probably fabricated to boost their prestige in an era without a true bearer. Our Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's Holy Son is the real Heavy Pupils!"

"Unbelievable…"

The elders were plunged into shock. They had previously thought Ye Chen's constitution, while impressive, fell short of Hua Yunfei's divine physique. But with the revelation of the Heavy Pupils, that notion vanished.

According to historical records and legendary feats, the Divine King Body, though capable of achieving immortality, paled in eras where a Heavy Pupils bearer emerged.

In the era of the Heavenly Emperor, unmatched and supreme, a Heavy Pupil bearer arose among the myriad races—the only one capable of challenging the Emperor in the same realm. Considered the Emperor's lifelong rival, though always defeated, they survived and grew, ultimately ascending to immortality alongside the Emperor.

Though the Heavy Pupils bearer was ultimately slain by the Heavenly Emperor after ascension, their fearsome potential was undeniable. The Heavenly Emperor was widely regarded as the greatest human in history, and to fight him from low to high realms, even as a rival who never won, was extraordinary. Without the Emperor, that Heavy Pupils bearer would have dominated an entire era.

Such was the terror of the Heavy Pupils.

The elders quickly realized their mistake. The new Holy Son wasn't losing his composure out of desperation. With a trump card like the Heavy Pupils, how could he possibly be rattled? He was simply done playing around, opting for a swift resolution.

On the battlefield, mist swirled, forming a pure sanctuary. Even the elders' spiritual senses couldn't penetrate it, only catching vague glimpses of the battle within through the haze. Inside, the new Holy Son was ferociously suppressing the Kun Peng, confirming their assumptions and leaving them in awe of the Heavy Pupil's might.

At the Nascent Soul stage, he could create a sanctuary on the battlefield, sealing a formidable foe like the Kun Peng, which couldn't escape despite its prowess. No wonder the Heavy Pupils were deemed invincible. In every era, its bearers shone brilliantly, reducing countless prodigies to mere footnotes. It was truly terrifying. Even the Deity Transformation elders, gazing at the sanctuary, couldn't help but wonder if they could break free if trapped within.

Lin Qingtan, her face veiled in mist, stood lost in thought. The new Holy Son was strong—beyond imagination. With the Heavy Pupils, his talent seemed to eclipse even Hua Yunfei's on the surface. Such a prodigy was too vital. Even if Ye Chen chose her as his Protector, the Holy Land would likely object. A talent this dazzling posed a threat; enemies would seize any chance to snuff him out before he could grow. With Hua Yunfei already in their ranks, adding another like Ye Chen would render other Holy Lands obsolete in a millennium.

This made Ye Chen's situation perilous, demanding an even stronger Protector. As an early-stage Deity Transformation cultivator, Lin Qingtan stood no chance. Yet Ye Chen's talent, fortune, and opportunities sparked hope in her. More radiant than Hua Yunfei in his time, his favor from the heavens might just hold the key to resolving her own predicament. She couldn't give up. Watching Ye Chen chase the Kun Peng with a barrage of divine abilities and techniques, she sank into deep contemplation.

Li Feihuang, too weak to even glimpse the battlefield, could only infer from her master's and the elders' reactions. Her delicate face grew paler, her once-vibrant red hair now hanging limply over her shoulders.

The one least able to accept this was Tian Mingzi, his expression one of sheer terror. He knew of the Heavy Pupils—one of the most renowned bloodline divine abilities, coveted even by great powerhouses. Its bearers, if they didn't fall, were destined to stand at the pinnacle of the cultivation world from birth. Their rivals were always divine or sacred physiques, equally monstrous existences.

Tian Mingzi, a prodigy in his own right who had killed his way to Deity Transformation, was confident. But to serve as a whetstone for Heavy Pupils' bearer? To test their combat prowess? Am I even worthy? Just kill me now!