ISWI Chapter 305-306

Chapter 305: Successive Breakthroughs!

On this day, Ye Chen officially entered seclusion. Upon hearing the news, the Divine Will Ancestor smiled with satisfaction. In its eight-thousand-year history, the Divine Will Sect had never boasted more than two Nascent Soul cultivators at its peak. Now, three peak Golden Core cultivators—Ye Chen, An Miaoli, and the Magic Peak Master—were attempting to break through to Nascent Soul, an unprecedentedly grand event.

Even if the Magic Peak Master's chances were slim, An Miaoli and Ye Chen were certain to succeed. An Miaoli could inherit the mantle as Ancestor, while Ye Chen, though unwilling to formally join the sect, was tied to An Yuyi, making him a powerful ally.

With the looming threat of Heavenly Nether Sect's retaliation, an additional Nascent Soul cultivator meant greater strength. If Ye Chen could slay a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator as a Golden Core, wouldn't he effortlessly crush late-Nascent Soul foes once he broke through?

The Ancestor held high expectations for Ye Chen. He deliberately claimed credit for killing Han Feng and Elder Qin—not for vanity, as he had only a couple of decades left to live and cared little for fame. His goal was to protect and foster goodwill with Ye Chen.

An early Nascent Soul defeating a mid-Nascent Soul was impressive but plausible; a Golden Core doing so was outright shocking, likely drawing unwanted attention and potentially deadly threats to Ye Chen's life due to his presumed heaven-defying opportunities. By taking the blame, the Ancestor shielded him.

Of course, he planned to privately inform Ye Chen of his efforts, ensuring the young man knew the favor owed and would aid Divine Will Sect in the future.

There was another reason for his deception. He feared the sect's elders, dreading a Deity Transformation cultivator's wrath, might foolishly hand Ye Chen over to Heavenly Nether Sect in a misguided attempt to appease them. Such a move would be idiotic—Heavenly Nether Sect wouldn't spare Divine Will Sect, and they'd alienate a prodigy capable of slaying across realms. By claiming responsibility, the Ancestor ensured no one would dare suggest betraying him, their own Ancestor.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Divine Will Sect continued its orderly preparations, amassing vast supplies. Most external resources were left with minimal guards, with the rest withdrawn. Geniuses like An Yuyi were kept within the sect unless absolutely necessary.

The Divine Will Ancestor traveled far to hire a fifth-grade array grandmaster, paying a steep price to upgrade the mountain gate's formation. It could now withstand even a peak Deity Transformation cultivator's assault for ten to fifteen days.

Though costly to build and requiring maintenance every century at no small expense, it was a worthy investment. Even if Heavenly Nether Sect didn't attack, a strong gate array was essential for the sect's enduring legacy.

As the Ancestor surveyed the gate, marveling at the sect's progress, his brows suddenly twitched. Dark clouds gathered above Magic Peak, crackling with thunderous energy.

"A tribulation?"

The entire sect stirred, all eyes skyward. Soon, thunderbolts struck Magic Peak, rumbling loudly. After nine sparse bolts, the tribulation clouds dispersed, and the skies cleared. A hearty laugh echoed through Divine Will Sect, accompanied by the terrifying pressure unique to a Nascent Soul cultivator, instilling instinctive fear in Golden Core cultivators.

The Magic Peak Master had broken through!

The Ancestor flew over, finding the Magic Peak Master charred, his hair singed off. Genuinely surprised, he asked bluntly, "How did you manage that?"

The Magic Peak Master grinned. "Thanks to Fellow Daoist Ye…" Though he'd only formed the lowest-grade Mortal Soul, with no hope of further advancement, the five-hundred-year lifespan of a Nascent Soul cultivator was more than enough.

A new Nascent Soul was a monumental event for Divine Will Sect, sparking widespread celebration.

Two months later, thunderclouds gathered above Quiet Wonder Peak, vast enough to darken half the sect. The crowd's expressions shifted—Elder An was breaking through.

The tribulation descended, its terrifying bolts leaving onlookers trembling. Nine strikes fell, each more devastating than the last, as if to shatter the heavens. Compared to this, the Magic Peak Master's tribulation seemed like a jest.

When the ninth bolt ended, a white-robed figure rose gracefully, shrouded in ethereal immortal qi, as if ready to ascend through celestial gates. Her overwhelming pressure made even the Magic Peak Master, a fellow Nascent Soul, feel inferior.

An Miaoli had officially broken through.

"Greetings, Ancestor!" An Miaoli bowed to the Divine Will Ancestor.

He laughed heartily. "Ancestor? Call me Fellow Daoist! Such a spectacle—did you form an Immortal Soul?"

An Miaoli nodded. "By luck, I formed a high-grade Immortal Soul."

The Ancestor's eyes widened. A high-grade Immortal Soul? Even Holy Land direct disciples couldn't guarantee such a feat. Did this mean she had a real shot at Deity Transformation? But he knew her aptitude wasn't that exceptional. Unable to resist, he asked, "How did you do it?"

An Miaoli smiled at the question. How did she form it? Naturally, because of Ye Chen.

Though she hadn't reached a Heavenly Spirit Root, she was just a sliver away. During her Golden Core stage, she'd comprehended fragments of an immortal scripture, gaining immense benefits.

The Kunpeng Heart Refining Art had honed her spiritual sense to its peak. On top of that, Ye Chen had gifted her various spiritual items that aided in forming a Nascent Soul. Without him, even a low-grade Immortal Soul would've depended on luck. Her high-grade Immortal Soul was entirely his doing.

Yet, despite his immense contributions, Ye Chen had never asked for anything in return. Her gaze softened at the thought.

"Fellow Daoist Ye helped me greatly in forming this high-grade Immortal Soul," she said with a smile.

The Divine Will Ancestor was stunned. Ye Chen again? First the Magic Peak Master, now An Miaoli. Recalling how Ye Chen casually gifted a precious low-grade Heaven-tier Nascent Soul technique to An Yuyi without a second glance, even the Ancestor couldn't help but wonder: what kind of fortune did Ye Chen possess?

He harbored no greed, though. Having been outmatched by Ye Chen himself, coveting his secrets would be suicidal. Instead, the Ancestor was more curious about what kind of Nascent Soul Ye Chen would form.

A Golden Core cultivator who could slay a mid-Nascent Soul foe forming a top-grade Immortal Soul seemed only logical. With such a Nascent Soul, Ye Chen might actually become a Holy Son at Heavenly Evolution Holy Land.

With An Miaoli and the Magic Peak Master elevated to Ancestor status, Divine Will Sect now boasted three Nascent Soul cultivators, its prestige soaring and future bright. Ordinary disciples walked with pride, feeling honored by the sect's strength.

But the joy didn't last long. Half a month later, a late-Nascent Soul powerhouse arrived at the sect's gate, his voice booming like thunder. "Slaying our Heavenly Nether Sect's Young Master is a crime deserving of death! Hand over the culprit, offer your life tablets, and submit to the Heavenly Nether Sect, and your Divine Will Sect's legacy may endure. Otherwise, when our Sect Master arrives, a Deity Transformation's wrath will leave millions dead! Your sect will be utterly annihilated!"

The terrifying voice echoed through the mountain gate. Many Golden Core elders paled, unable to withstand the pressure.

Heavenly Nether Sect had finally come for revenge.

Chapter 306: If We Die, We Die Together!

The mention of Heavenly Nether Sect sent shivers through Divine Will Sect. Despite the vast distance, its fearsome reputation echoed across Great Yan Continent.

The Divine Will Ancestor's face darkened. Though he'd anticipated this, the reality of their arrival weighed heavily.

"Ancestor, what do we do?" the Sect Master asked, voice laced with worry.

The Ancestor rolled his eyes irritably. "What do we do? We fight, obviously. Or do you want to hand me over to atone for their Young Master's death? Maybe offer your life tablets while you're at it?"

The Sect Master fell silent, head bowed.

The Ancestor snorted, turning to An Miaoli and the Magic Peak Master. "They're arrogant, sending just one. Let's see if we can take him down. Heavenly Nether Sect is strong, but they only have one late-Nascent Soul cultivator. Kill him, and our lives get easier."

He pinned his hopes on An Miaoli. With her high-grade Immortal Soul, her combat power was likely exceptional, perhaps as heaven-defying as Ye Chen's.

An Miaoli and the Magic Peak Master were taken aback. Three early-Nascent Soul cultivators challenging a late-Nascent Soul? Wasn't that reckless? But recalling the Ancestor's feat of killing a mid-Nascent Soul while in the early stage, they realized he had late-stage combat power. With him leading and them assisting, they might stand a chance. Their gazes sharpened with resolve.

Soon, the sect's mountain gate array unleashed a dazzling beam of divine light, terrifying in its might, but the Heavenly Nether Sect elder blocked it with a raised hand. Unfazed, he grinned cruelly. "Stubborn fools. Await your doom."

He'd hoped to intimidate them into surrendering the culprit, seizing control of the array, and then slaughtering them. Since they were clever enough to resist, he wouldn't force it. The array was beyond his ability to break, but when the Sect Master arrived, no array would hold.

At that moment, an old man charged forth, laughing maniacally, followed by two early-Nascent Soul auras. The Heavenly Nether Sect elder frowned. Reinforcements? But three early-stage cultivators? Surely a trap.

The Ancestor attacked, his sleeves whipping up two spiritual qi dragons. The Magic Peak Master unleashed a sea of divine fire, as if to incinerate all. An Miaoli delicately wielded her techniques, bombarding the elder's surroundings with mystical arts. Divine light flared, the scene awe-inspiring.

For a moment, the Heavenly Nether Sect elder seemed suppressed, thrilling the watching Divine Will Sect elders. But he soon realized there was no ambush—he'd overthought it. Dropping his restraint, he struck with full force, intent on killing the trio.

The tide turned swiftly. Within a hundred breaths, the Ancestor and Magic Peak Master were battered half to death. An Miaoli held the elder off briefly, buying time to retreat into the array.

The late-Nascent Soul cultivator from Heavenly Nether Sect didn't approach the mountain gate array, merely sneering, "Await your doom!" With that, he departed.

A deathly silence fell over Divine Will Sect. In the grand hall, the Divine Will Ancestor, poisoned by nether qi, was pale and weakened. The Magic Peak Master's body was half-shattered. Had An Miaoli not unleashed the True Phoenix Treasure Technique and techniques from the Eternal Cosmos Sutra to hold off the enemy, neither might have returned alive. The elders looked at An Miaoli with increased reverence, but their gazes toward the Ancestor held confusion.

The Magic Peak Master's weakness was understandable—no one had expected him to break through. But the Ancestor's performance was baffling. Hadn't he previously killed a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator across a minor realm? Why did he seem barely stronger than the Magic Peak Master now? No one dared voice or ask, burying their doubts.

The Ancestor, embarrassed, chose to seclude himself to heal. The Magic Peak Master did the same, leaving An Miaoli to manage the sect. She issued brief orders, prioritizing the evacuation of their people from Divine Will City. With the mountain gate's safety in question, the city had to be abandoned.

After handling matters, An Miaoli returned to Quiet Wonder Peak, glancing at Ye Chen's seclusion site. She suspected the truth: the mid-Nascent Soul Heavenly Nether Sect elder was likely killed by Ye Chen.

At that moment, An Yuyi emerged from her own seclusion, overjoyed to see her aunt's Nascent Soul breakthrough. She recounted the day she was in danger—how the Ancestor arrived but couldn't win, and they huddled in the defensive array, trembling. At the critical moment, Ye Chen arrived, cloaked in seven-colored divine light, golden wings blazing, swiftly crushing the enemy.

An Miaoli's expression confirmed her suspicions. She patted An Yuyi's head. "In a few days, the sect will send a group of seeds away. You'll go with them."

Heavenly Nether Sect was terrifying. Despite the Ancestor's tough stance, he'd been preparing an escape route.

An Yuyi frowned. "Aunt, you're staying, and Senior Brother Ye Chen is still in seclusion. I'm not leaving. If we die, we die together!"

Her resolve was unshakable. An Miaoli glanced at Ye Chen's seclusion site, smiling bitterly. Earlier, when the trio failed against the Heavenly Nether Sect elder, the Ancestor had transmitted to her, urging her to lead others away to preserve the sect's legacy. She knew it was the best option, but Ye Chen was still in seclusion, uncontactable. If the mountain gate fell, he'd be doomed mid-breakthrough. How could she abandon him?

Yet the power gap was vast. If Heavenly Nether Sect's Deity Transformation Sect Master attacked with other Nascent Soul elders, the gate wouldn't hold a month. It was a hopeless situation.

An Miaoli tried to persuade An Yuyi further, but the younger woman gazed hopefully at Ye Chen's cave abode. "Aunt, I think you're being too pessimistic. As long as we hold out until Senior Brother achieves Nascent Soul and emerges, everything will turn around. He could kill a Nascent Soul as a Golden Core—once he's Nascent Soul, he can surely kill a Deity Transformation cultivator. Even if he can't, it'd be a fair fight, right?"

An Miaoli shook her head inwardly at her niece's naivety. The higher the cultivation realm, the wider the gap between stages, making cross-realm battles increasingly difficult. Ye Chen facing a Deity Transformation cultivator—a full major realm above—was unthinkable. But she didn't voice this. She was determined to protect Ye Chen until the end. As long as she lived, no one would disturb his seclusion.

An Yuyi, however, was young with a bright future. If the situation grew dire, An Miaoli resolved to seal her niece's spiritual qi and force her to leave. For now, she'd focus on cultivating the Eternal Cosmos Sutra. The recent battle had deepened her appreciation of its power. Freshly broken through to Nascent Soul, she'd held off a late-Nascent Soul cultivator using its techniques. With a few years to master it and condense the Cosmic Furnace, her combat power could soar, perhaps allowing her to slay mid-Nascent Soul foes or repel late-stage ones as an early-stage cultivator.

Regrettably, time was short.

As An Miaoli pondered, An Yuyi hugged her arm, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Aunt, why haven't you become Dao partners with Senior Brother Ye Chen?"

An Miaoli's delicate brows furrowed at the question.