ISWI Chapter 282-283

Chapter 282: The Grand Ceremony's End and an Unexpected Proposal

Hua Yunfei nodded toward Ye Chen. His blue robe fluttered as he turned to Dantai Xuan with a gentle, apologetic smile. "One of our disciples is trapped in an ancient ruin. My true body has sent a message, asking me to rescue them. So, I won't be able to return to the Holy Land with you, Dantai."

Dantai Xuan gave a calm nod, her ethereal, icy face showing no trace of emotion. "Then I'll head off first."

With those words, she didn't linger. She ascended gracefully, and a majestic ship, hidden within the void, materialized once more. Dantai Xuan boarded and departed without a backward glance.

Hua Yunfei let out a soft chuckle, his blue robe swaying lightly. In an instant, he transformed into a wisp of spiritual energy and vanished silently. The scene left every cultivator present in shock. Even Ye Chen couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

This Hua Yunfei was the most dangerous figure Ye Chen had ever encountered since entering the cultivation world, far more threatening than Dantai Xuan. And yet, unbelievably, this was merely an avatar of his?

Just how powerful was his true body? It was almost unimaginable.

But Ye Chen wasn't discouraged. On the contrary, Hua Yunfei's presence ignited an even stronger desire in him to grow stronger. If the world were filled with weaklings like the Champion King, it would be dull.

The more prodigies and powerhouses like Hua Yunfei there were, the higher the cultivation world's ceiling would be. And that gave Ye Chen all the more motivation to grow. He was confident that, with his own efforts, he would one day surpass this Senior Brother Holy Son.

Reflecting on his current Golden Core Great Perfection stage, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. Just ten years ago, he had arrived at Silver Moon Market, trembling at the mention of rogue cultivators, fleeing in panic from beast tides. Now, a decade later, he stood at the late Golden Core stage, a single step away from forming his Nascent Soul. Soon, he would head to the lofty Heavenly Evolution Holy Land to assume the role of Holy Son.

Memories of the past ten years swirled in his mind—moments of fear, embarrassment, and timidity. But those were all in the past.

Ye Chen let out a wistful sigh. "Just a bit of wind and frost, nothing more."

...

The display from the Holy Son and Holy Maiden only deepened Ye Chen's anticipation for the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. This trip had been incredibly rewarding. With that, he prepared to leave.

The crowd watched him with a mix of envy and jealousy. The Sword Peng Heart Refining Technique was a treasure art anyone would covet. But Ye Chen's strength was undeniable, and no one dared show any hint of greed.

Only the heads of families like the Wang Clan gazed at Ye Chen with subtle, calculating expressions…

The Holy Son and Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land had departed, and the coronation ceremony was drawing to a close. The guests began to leave the palace one by one.

Just as Ye Chen was about to depart as well, a voice transmission reached his ears: "Ye Chen, come to the Chu Emperor Hall."

It was Li Feihuang's voice.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. He had already gifted the Northern Emperor War Chariot to Dantai Xuan, using up his daily gift quota. As for the Sword Peng Heart Refining Technique from Hua Yunfei, he had no intention of giving it to Li Feihuang. Her reward multiplier was a mere five hundred times—hardly worth it. It would be better to gift it to Aunt.

In truth, the technique would be even more fitting for his master, whose Golden Core was forged from the bones of a sword peng, perfectly aligning with the technique. But his master wasn't here, so the aunt would have to do.

Under these circumstances, there didn't seem much point in meeting Li Feihuang. Still, Ye Chen recalled how, in the past, whenever he'd given her gifts, she'd promised grand rewards once she became empress—returns a hundredfold, she'd said.

Perhaps now was the time for her to make good on those promises? If she let him pick a couple of treasures from the Great Chu treasury, he could gift them to someone else for a nice return.

With that thought, Ye Chen decided not to rush off. He strolled leisurely toward the Chu Emperor Hall. The hall was vast and opulent, radiating grandeur. After a palace attendant led Ye Chen inside, the doors closed behind him.

Li Feihuang sat upon the imperial throne, her gaze on Ye Chen filled with admiration. Now at the late Golden Core stage, she had reached Great Perfection after defeating the Champion King and receiving the blessing of imperial aura.

"You did well out there," she said.

Ye Chen blinked, momentarily confused. What had he done?

Li Feihuang noticed his feigned ignorance but didn't call him out. To outsiders, Ye Chen's bold move of gifting the war chariot to the Holy Maiden might have looked like an attempt to curry favor. But Li Feihuang knew better. His generosity was a calculated move to make the Holy Maiden owe the Great Chu Dynasty a favor—a significant boon for the dynasty.

Even among the Li Clan, few would sacrifice their own interests for the dynasty's benefit. Ye Chen's actions touched her deeply. Today, she would give him the reward he'd been waiting for. She was certain the news would thrill him.

Li Feihuang lifted her chin proudly, her graceful jawline catching the light as her radiant eyes met Ye Chen's. "Ye Chen, I've spoken with the Ancestor. The Ancestor will no longer hold you accountable for killing the Champion King. Moreover, he has agreed to take you as a son-in-law, making you the Imperial Consort of Great Chu!"

Her words hung in the air as she awaited Ye Chen's ecstatic reaction. But Ye Chen's eyes widened in shock.

"Huh?"

Son-in-law? Imperial Consort? What was she talking about?

Li Feihuang's smile grew even brighter as she watched Ye Chen's expression. She continued, "After becoming the Imperial Consort, you'll offer up the True Dragon Treasure Technique to serve as the Li Clan's hereditary technique. You'll also provide a wisp of your soul to craft a soul lamp, marking you as a core member of the Li Clan. All resources, techniques, and cultivation methods will be fully available to you without reservation, ensuring you reach the Nascent Soul stage.

"As for heirs, I'm still young and won't consider such matters before forming my Nascent Soul. But I can promise you this: if, after two hundred years, I still haven't formed my Nascent Soul, I'll dual cultivate with you to produce an heir. That child, bearing the Li surname and blessed with our combined physiques, will surely be extraordinary and destined to inherit the Great Chu throne. Soon, you'll be titled the Golden Dragon King. I'll enter seclusion, entrusting all authority to you…"

At this point, Ye Chen couldn't hold back a chuckle. He'd thought that becoming empress might temper Li Feihuang's arrogance. Instead, it seemed her condition had only worsened. Her words were, without a doubt, the most outrageous thing Ye Chen had heard since crossing into this world.

Become a son-in-law, surrender the True Dragon Treasure Technique, and let their child take her surname? Fine, he could stomach that. But waiting two hundred years for her to decide whether she's in the mood to dual cultivate and produce a single heir? Even the mythical Weaver Girl wasn't this absurd.

And the kicker? Hand over a wisp of his soul to craft a soul lamp, effectively putting him under her control. Then, while she secluded herself to cultivate and grow stronger, he'd be left to handle the dynasty's affairs like some workhorse? All while she acted as if she were doing him a grand favor? How could she say this with a straight face?

A thousand roasts swirled in Ye Chen's mind, but he didn't know where to begin. Outrageous. Truly outrageous. In his previous life, he'd read those ridiculous dragon king son-in-law novels, and even those plots weren't as absurd as Li Feihuang's proposal.

In the end, Ye Chen couldn't be bothered to respond. It was a waste of time. With a calm glance at Li Feihuang, he turned and walked out of the Chu Emperor Hall.

On the imperial throne, Li Feihuang waited for Ye Chen to eagerly accept her offer. Sure, the conditions were a tad strict, but given his feelings for her, how could he care about such trivialities? Becoming her Imperial Consort was surely his lifelong dream.

But in the next moment, her pupils constricted, her smile freezing. In her line of sight, Ye Chen merely looked at her calmly. Without a single word, he turned and left the Chu Emperor Hall. His resolute figure seemed to carry an unshakable determination…

Chapter 283: All I Wanted Was a Guarantee

Li Feihuang stood frozen, stunned by Ye Chen's actions.

What was he doing? Why had he left without a word? Was he dissatisfied with her conditions? It was just handing over the True Dragon Treasure Technique and leaving a wisp of his soul for a soul lamp.

Sure, it might seem a bit excessive, but the Great Chu Dynasty, with its ten-thousand-year legacy, naturally had to take precautions with outsiders. It wasn't as if she truly wanted his soul—she just needed a guarantee!

She, the imperial princess, was willing to take him as her dao companion and even bear his child. Wasn't that sincerity enough? And yet, Ye Chen still wasn't satisfied?

A flicker of anger flashed through Li Feihuang's eyes. She shot forward, swiftly blocking Ye Chen's path, her voice cold. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Ye Chen gave her an indifferent glance, too exasperated to bother with words. "I can't measure up to your standards. Find someone else to be your Imperial Consort."

He had hoped to pick a few treasures from the dynasty's treasury, but instead, she'd turned his goodwill against him. He couldn't even be bothered to spare her another look. With that, he stepped around her and continued toward the palace gates.

His attitude only fueled Li Feihuang's anger. She was offering him the honor of being her dao companion, showering him with glory, and he dared to reject her so rudely? All for a mere wisp of soul and the True Dragon Treasure Technique? So, everything he'd done before was just an act.

Li Feihuang stood rooted in place, her expression icy. "If you walk away today, don't ever set foot in the Great Chu Dynasty again!"

Ye Chen didn't pause for a moment. He strode toward the palace gates without hesitation.

Li Feihuang clenched her teeth, her fists tightening. "Don't regret this!"

Ye Chen didn't look back. Without the slightest hint of reluctance, he stepped out of the palace.

When his figure finally vanished from sight, Li Feihuang's knuckles were white, her palms bleeding from where her nails dug into her tender skin. She hadn't expected this.

The Ye Chen who had once unhesitatingly given her his true disciple quota, who had gifted her phoenix blood, who had gone bankrupt to buy her Star River Purple Sand—the Ye Chen she thought would always stand behind her, supporting her unconditionally—had walked away so decisively.

Shock, anger, and a faint, almost imperceptible trace of loss flickered in her eyes.

Clad in her imperial robes, Li Feihuang stood motionless for a long time before silently turning back to the Chu Emperor Hall.

Deep down, she was convinced Ye Chen would come to regret this. Perhaps in ten years, perhaps in a hundred. When that day came, he would realize what he had lost today.

The falling out between Ye Chen and Li Feihuang was witnessed by countless palace attendants. Word spread quickly, reaching the ears of the four major families, including the Wang Clan. They learned that Ye Chen had left the Great Chu Palace and was heading out of the imperial city. He was clearly leaving.

The other three families were delighted, though they didn't know why he was departing. To them, Ye Chen's absence meant one less rival to contend with. As for whether a prodigy like Ye Chen leaving was a loss to Great Chu? They couldn't care less.

But the Wang Clan Patriarch's eyes gleamed with excitement upon hearing the news. Unlike the other families, the Wang Clan had a deep blood feud with Ye Chen. Wang Ming had died at Ye Chen's hands—an irreconcilable enmity.

As long as Ye Chen remained in the Great Chu capital, revenge was impossible. But now that he was leaving, the opportunity for vengeance had arrived.

The Wang Clan Patriarch immediately pulled out a transmission talisman and activated it, speaking swiftly: "Senior Beiming, the cultivator named Ye Chen has left the Great Chu capital!

"This brat must have obtained the Northern Emperor's inheritance, and he's carrying the top-tier Sword Peng Heart Refining Technique gifted by the Holy Son. If Senior Beiming and Senior Zhanye can take him down, the rewards will be immense.

"Moreover, I acquired the Nether Bird Visualization Diagram from the Champion King's seclusion site. If you confirm Ye Chen's death, I'll personally deliver it to you!"

Moments later, the talisman glowed, and a resonant voice responded.

"Good!"

A grin spread across the Wang Clan Patriarch's face.

The Wang Clan had been tasked with handling the Champion King's estate, reaping rich rewards and secretly hoarding many treasures, including the visualization diagram. For a Nascent Soul cultivator aiming to break through to the Deity Transformation stage, such a diagram was critical—it allowed their Nascent Soul to evolve into a Law Manifestation, achieving Deity Transformation.

The rogue cultivator Beiming Ancestor had clashed with the Champion King over this very diagram but failed to suppress him. The Champion King had escaped using his war chariot. After acquiring the diagram, the Wang Clan Patriarch sent Wang Lun to contact Beiming Ancestor, successfully forging an alliance to take down Ye Chen and exact revenge.

The Wang Clan Patriarch's face was alight with satisfaction. Wang Ming, though publicly known as his third brother's son, was secretly his own. How could anyone tolerate the murder of their own child?

Now, the chance to settle this blood debt had finally come. He could hardly wait to celebrate with three hundred cups of wine. But soon, his brow furrowed. Wang Lun should have returned by now. Why was there still no sign of him?

With Ye Chen's impending demise and Wang Lun's chance to become the Imperial Consort, time was of the essence. After sending a few more messages to Wang Lun's transmission talisman, the Wang Clan Patriarch settled in to await news of Ye Chen's fall.

Ye Chen was formidable, and Beiming Ancestor alone might not suffice. But Beiming had enlisted his friend, Zhanye Ancestor, to join forces in their original plan to kill the Champion King and seize the diagram. Now, with the Champion King dead, two Nascent Soul powerhouses were turning their sights on Ye Chen.

Ye Chen was as good as dead.

...

Deep within the Great Chu Palace, the Ancestor popped two medicinal pills into his mouth, followed by a couple of spiritual fruits. His cold eyes watched Ye Chen's departure from afar.

In truth, he had long wanted to emerge from seclusion, as he felt no sign of a breakthrough. But leaving now would be awkward. As the Ancestor, he couldn't simply ignore the Champion King's death.

Yet, taking action was risky—if he failed to suppress Ye Chen and let him escape, it would be a humiliating loss of face. Caught in this dilemma, he had chosen to bide his time.

Ye Chen's departure came as no surprise. The Ancestor had long suspected Li Feihuang was overthinking things. The conditions she'd proposed were deliberately harsh at his subtle urging.

As for Ye Chen leaving and the Great Chu Dynasty losing a prodigy with the potential to reach the Nascent Soul stage? The Ancestor couldn't care less.

Compared to the prosperity of Great Chu, he was far more concerned with whether the dynasty remained under the Li Clan's control. Ye Chen was too powerful, enough to make even the Ancestor uneasy. While he was alive, he might barely keep Ye Chen in check, but after his death? Ye Chen could easily usurp the dynasty, changing its name and legacy with a flick of his wrist.

So, Ye Chen's departure was for the best. The only pity was that Ye Chen hadn't left something behind with Li Feihuang—a child, perhaps. Keeping the child and discarding the father would have been ideal. But that was clearly impossible now.

As he mulled this over, the Ancestor's brow twitched. Through the grand formation of the Great Chu capital, he faintly sensed two early Nascent Soul cultivators chasing after Ye Chen's departing figure. He immediately pieced it together.

Rising to his feet, the Ancestor quietly slipped out of the subterranean palace, leaving the capital without a sound.

Ye Chen carried secrets, and the Ancestor didn't dare act directly. But these two cultivators could serve as probes, clashing with Ye Chen like clams and snipe fighting over a prize. And he? He would play the fisherman, reaping the rewards from the shadows.

Ye Chen had disrespected the Li Clan, acting with reckless abandon, refining souls and seizing pills—he deserved death.

As for those two Nascent Soul cultivators, skulking around Great Chu's territory and coveting its treasures? They, too, deserved death.

When no opportunity presented itself, the Ancestor had remained in quiet seclusion, avoiding trouble. He had even endured the refining of his descendants' souls in the capital. But now, sensing a chance…

The Ancestor bared his ferocious fangs. Without hesitation, he prepared to strike.