ISWI Chapter 537-539

Chapter 537: Immortal Guiding Scripture

Hearing the Heavenly Emperor's heir was a Chaos Body—and female—Ye Chen dropped his prejudices. The Heavenly Emperor Hall couldn't be all bad. With a Chaos Body, the heir wouldn't stoop to using him as a shield. Her intentions were likely pure; any issues stemmed from underlings' errors. If he knew the Hall's location, he'd visit, protect the heir, or aid her growth. Though Heavenly Evolution Holy Land was great, the Heavenly Emperor Hall offered broader horizons.

After the Emperor's parting words, his imprint and the terrifying thunder domain dissipated. Ye Chen's Unity tribulation ended anticlimactically. Honestly, not fighting the Emperor left him regretful—especially since he felt he could've won.

But no matter. He'd faced the Emperor now; at Mahayana, they'd meet again. Surely the Emperor wouldn't have "other business" then. Curious, Ye Chen wondered what the Emperor's current realm was, and what he was busy with.

…

As the thunder cleared, Ye Chen descended under countless awed gazes. Holy Master Feng Baiyu flew over, shocked. "Done so fast? You didn't face the Emperor?"

The aura from the thunder domain screamed Emperor, but Ye Chen's swift victory made him doubt. The Emperor was peerless in his realm, never defeated despite tough battles. His same-realm imprint, even if weaker, shouldn't fall so easily—else that myriad-race prodigy wouldn't have died to it.

Ye Chen smiled lightly, nodding. "I met him."

He displayed the imprint. Feeling its aura, Feng Baiyu's eyes widened. He knew Ye Chen was strong—outrageously so—but defeating the Emperor's imprint in an hour? Too absurd! That was the Emperor! Was Ye Chen defying the heavens?

Feng Baiyu's mouth opened and closed, speechless. His lingering suspicion—that Ye Chen was the Emperor reincarnated—eased. Despite similarities and inherited treasures, this ruled it out. So who was Ye Chen? The Emperor's first-generation descendant, sealed until now?

Hesitating, Feng Baiyu asked, "Did you call the Emperor 'Dad'? Could he be the father you've been searching for?"

Ye Chen: "…"

Ignoring the absurd Holy Master, he chatted briefly with Elder Mo and flew back to Holy Son Peak. Freshly broken through, his strength had soared, bloodline Divine Abilities amplified with his realm.

Facing the Heavenly Intention Holy Son now, a single Heavy Pupil glance could kill. But the biggest change lay in his sea of spirit sense. A misty cloud of Chaos formed—his domain. Each domain had unique traits; top prodigies awakened Domain Divine Abilities based on their Dao and techniques.

Like Yi Qingwu's, which stripped all but the spirit sense for combat. Ye Chen's domain was simple: it amplified him. Within it, his attacks hit harder, speed surged, and recovery quickened. Nothing fancy, but potent.

The biggest surprise for Ye Chen was his Domain Divine Abilities. He sensed eight gestating within his domain—an astonishing, unheard-of number. Most prodigies had one, varying in strength.

He suspected this stemmed from his ten-thousand-fold amplified Yin-Yang Qi and the Triple Charms Unity Method. His already vast foundation, boosted exponentially, was boundless. Add the Triple Charms, and the absurdity made sense. But his domain was newly formed; most abilities were still developing. Only one had fully emerged: Two Lives as One: Splits an enemy's body in two, so close yet worlds apart, nearly impossible to heal.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. This ability was formidable, tied to his Heaven and Earth Manifestation. If the first was this potent, what about the other seven? Next time he faced the Emperor's imprint, he'd show off. Walk another's path, leave them no path to tread.

With Unity achieved, he turned to cultivation techniques. The Emperor's Unity realm scripture was the Immortal Guiding Scripture, created by an ancient human Venerable.

In Unity, one merges Yin-Yang, no longer just refining spiritual qi. Instead, through the domain, one senses and captures the world's Dao charms, refining them into oneself. Enough charms allow condensing the Immortal Platform for Mahayana, tied to longevity. But, per the Holy Master, Mahayana now granted only seven thousand years. After this golden era's immortal path closed, the cultivation world's environment would worsen, further shortening lifespans.

The Immortal Guiding Scripture greatly amplified seeking and refining Dao charms. Normally hard to find and refine, the scripture made it as easy as stealing. It sped up Unity cultivation and expanded the domain's capacity for charms, building a deeper foundation. Arguably the strongest Unity scripture.

But it vanished before the Emperor, who found it on an ancient stele. Many attacked him, glimpsing its divine text, thrilled. The Emperor used the stele as leverage to escape, but it shattered in the struggle. Only he obtained the full text, never sharing it, leaving only the Heavenly Emperor Scripture.

The legendary Immortal Guiding Scripture became myth. Some holy lands created lesser charm-refining methods from those glimpsed texts, but they paled in comparison. All coveted it, but none succeeded.

For Ye Chen, though, this was no issue at all!

Chapter 538: The Fiancée Never Disappoints!

Who to gift the Unity realm technique to for the best critical hit?

Senior An, mid-Deity Transformation, despite her Seven Extremes Immortal Body's rapid growth, was far from Unity. Elder Lin Qingtan was close but couldn't trigger a critical hit. Divine Maiden Fan Qinghe, likely to gain a higher multiplier post-nirvana, was bound to the Nirvana Scripture, limiting critical hits. The fiancée, Yi Qingwu, wasn't suitable either.

Finding a high-multiplier female prodigy nearing Unity in the Central Continent might be necessary. No big issue—gift multiple times, and it'd trigger eventually. With his fast cultivation, there was no rush. First, stabilize his realm.

Ye Chen visited Senior An, sharing his Unity breakthrough joy, asking her to cleanse the toxins from long seclusion, and gifting some treasures. Then, he resumed seclusion, stabilizing his cultivation, emerging every seven days to gift.

A month later, a strange pulse stirred in his spirit sense.

A message: "Great Shang Immortal City, meet me!"

Ye Chen, startled, realized it was the imprint he left in the fiancée. Wasn't she in Central Continent? Why back? He missed her—not for her osmanthus spiritual liquid, just pure longing. She always brought surprises, like the Battle and Movement Secrets.

This time, might she bring the Healing Secret used by Fang Qing? If so, triggering two or three more of the Nine Secrets would be a massive gain. She was worth meeting. Great Shang Immortal City was a must.

Though trusting she wouldn't harm him, he took precautions, notifying Elder Mo to guard him. After packing, he flew to Great Shang.

…

"Qingwu, stay and cultivate in the holy land. We returned a month early, coordinated with the Holy Master. Several Supreme Elders will join to suppress the two from Nether God Holy Land and their protectors! I'm heading out to hunt a King Body."

Back in Great Yan, the Heavenly Intention Holy Son recalled his past humiliations from weakness, fueling his drive. Barely finishing with the Holy Master, he set off to hunt a King Body for its origin, per intelligence.

Yi Qingwu, in flowing white robes with silky hair, nodded. "Go, I'll wait patiently." The Holy Son loved her obedient demeanor, spurring his ambition. After a brief chat, he drifted off.

Alone in the holy land, Yi Qingwu waited a few days, then activated the imprints in her primordial spirit to message Ye Chen. Soon, the marks vibrated wildly, flushing her face before she smiled—Ye Chen received it. She cast a moonlight avatar to remain in seclusion, then used the Movement Secret to silently leave Heavenly Intention Holy Land, gliding toward Great Shang Immortal City.

Seven days later, in Great Shang Immortal City's Ascendant Pavilion, Ye Chen reserved the top floor. The pavilion, marked by past battles, drew young geniuses seeking insights, though most only grasped its awe-inspiring aura. Its popularity soared.

That day, the Sect Leader's son arrived with sect mates to discuss the Dao but was turned away. He didn't protest, whispering, "Who is it?"

Learning it was a Unity realm powerhouse, he frowned. The Fourth Holy Son, recently advanced to Unity, was the talk of Great Yan. Could it be him? If so, who was he meeting?

Imagining Yi Qingwu's stunning beauty, the son's mind wandered. Her allure could make the Fourth Holy Son, ignoring her betrothed, obsess over her, even sparing the Heavenly Intention Holy Son to avoid her wrath. Were they meeting secretly now? What might happen? His gossip-fueled mind raced.

On the top floor, Ye Chen and Yi Qingwu sat across from each other. She gazed at the now-Unity-realm Ye Chen, still dazed despite knowing. Their first meeting, he was peak Nascent Soul; now, he'd caught up so fast. Reflecting on their shared moments, she sighed inwardly: Ye Chen, you're too quick.

Ye Chen, eyeing his radiant fiancée, felt a twinge of disappointment. He'd expected her usual eagerness—perhaps setting up an array for intimacy. Instead, she sat calmly, not chattering as before, and got straight to business.

"Ying Tiansheng wields the Devouring Heaven Demon Art, ruthlessly harvesting prodigies. I know he's devoured dozens of King Bodies in two years. He's grown unfathomably strong, constantly improving. Now, he plans to hunt the First Nether Son and Fifth Nether Maiden in the Endless Sea. Four Supreme Elders will act, killing their Unity-realm protectors. Their origins, plus the top-tier Nether God Bodies, will feed Ying Tiansheng. If he consumes them all, he'll be unstoppable. I hope you and Heavenly Evolution Holy Land can intervene."

She betrayed Ying Tiansheng completely. Ye Chen raised an eyebrow—Ying had potential. If unchecked, he could become a threat. But Ye Chen feared no one. Could the Demon Art multiply origins a thousand or ten thousand times? His system could.

No matter how fast Ying grew, he couldn't match Ye Chen. Still, Ying might target the high-multiplier female cultivators around him—a hidden danger. Eliminating him now was ideal. Ye Chen nodded without hesitation, planning to inform his Holy Master.

Seeing his swift agreement, Yi Qingwu's stunning face softened with tenderness. This was risky, and as Heavenly Intention's holy daughter, others might suspect a trap.

Yet, as expected, Ye Chen agreed without pause—he loved her deeply. Fueled by revenge and his devotion, her radiance grew. Her melodious voice continued, "You're helping me avenge. I have no way to repay you…"

Ye Chen perked up. Was she offering herself? The 2,500x multiplier fiancée, the highest among his companions. He was reluctant, but rejecting her repeated offers might hurt her.

As he pondered, her voice chimed, "So, I'll pass you the Healing Secret and Devouring Heaven Demon Art. You'll better understand Ying Tiansheng's tactics."

Ye Chen's eyes lit up. The fiancée never disappointed!

Chapter 539: Passing Two Techniques

The fiancée was like a lucky star—always delivering top-tier gifts and experiences. The Healing Secret, a supreme healing technique, overlapped slightly with the True Phoenix Treasure Technique but differed: Phoenix focused on nirvana and nourishment, Healing on rapid restoration. Combined, their effect would be phenomenal. Maybe one day, like an anime protagonist he'd seen in his past life, the heavier his injuries, the stronger he'd rebound, soaring to new heights.

The Devouring Heaven Demon Art, though, didn't excite him. Devouring ordinary prodigies' origins yielded too little—barely matching his own, let alone his system's thousand- or ten-thousand-fold critical hits. Plus, plundering origins likely had hidden risks; it wasn't righteous. But studying it wasn't illegal.

Ye Chen nodded. "Crushing Ying Tiansheng is easy for me now, but you're right—know your enemy, win every battle. I'll take a look."

Yi Qingwu huffed, her enchanting glare electrifying, enough to unsettle any man.

"Don't get cocky. You don't know how strong Ying Tiansheng is now. He could rank around fifth among the Central Continent's ten prodigies. Even with your victory over the Star River King Body and Unity breakthrough, stay cautious."

She warned earnestly, fearing his overconfidence.

Ye Chen smiled. Ying's strong? You don't know how strong I am now. He'd show her next time but said nothing, sitting quietly as her delicate finger touched his brow. Instantly, two vast scriptures flooded his mind.

First, the Healing Secret. Having mastered three full Nine Secrets, he sensed this Healing Secret was incomplete, missing key parts—still a fragment for gifting. A pity; a complete version might've triggered all Nine Secrets with one gift.

Shaking his head, he scanned the Devouring Heaven Demon Art. Devour origins to achieve an Acquired Chaos Body! Though he'd heard of it, its details stunned him.

A Chaos Body—stronger even than an Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo—was the cultivation world's mightiest physique. A technique pushing anyone to that height, even an Acquired version, was extraordinary. Requiring only a spiritual root, even his initial trash root with no physique could rise through devouring. Utterly absurd.

He genuinely admired the Devouring Female Immortal who created it. She seemed greater than the Emperor. The Emperor had innate talent, but she, a mere mortal, defied fate to craft this technique. Her genius was invincible.

After transmitting everything, Yi Qingwu gave a few more warnings and prepared to leave. She couldn't let Ying Tiansheng discover her secret meeting with Ye Chen—it could bring unpredictable consequences or even backfire, endangering Ye Chen. She had to return quickly.

Seeing Yi Qingwu's graceful figure rise to leave, Ye Chen snapped out of his thoughts, startled. "Leaving already?"

Her heart caught his reluctance. She understood—with his deep feelings, he'd likely pined for her since their last parting. This brief reunion, shorter than past ones, must feel insufficient. Perhaps he craved more.

Truthfully, seeing him made the "||||\" imprints vibrate wildly, stirring her heart, tempting her to relive their tail-biting serpent beast moment. But time was short; she couldn't linger.

Softly, she said, "Ye Chen, I know you're reluctant and eager. Don't rush. Once this is over, and I've avenged my father, we'll have all the time in the world. Then, as long as you want, do whatever you wish. Promise me you'll wait patiently, okay?"

Ye Chen froze. What are you saying? As long as I want? Was he that kind of guy? Misunderstood, he didn't clarify to spare her embarrassment, nodding instead. From his brow, he summoned a palace flowing with moonlight.

"This should return to its owner. Hide it well, or Ying Tiansheng might suspect you met me."

Yi Qingwu gazed at the Moon Palace—an Extreme Dao Weapon, rare even among Mahayana cultivators due to its precious materials and crafting difficulty. This was Ye Chen's third attempt to return it. Her gaze softened further. If asked who she trusted most, she'd name Ye Chen without hesitation.

This time, she didn't refuse, feeling this might be the endgame. Ying Tiansheng was formidable, the First Nether Son likely hid cards, and Ye Chen might not easily prevail. She might need to act. Reclaiming the Moon Palace would boost her strength immensely.

"Alright, I'm leaving…"

She stored the Moon Palace in her brow, concealing its aura, and bid Ye Chen farewell, her eyes brimming with anticipation and reluctance. Softening, she leaned close, smiling. "Don't miss me too much; we'll meet soon. By then, my fiancé will surely be dead. You can do whatever you want with me."

Her breathy, enchanting voice dripped with allure as she lightly kissed his face. Her graceful figure vanished, drifting away. A final transmission lingered in his ear: "If you can't help missing me, activate the imprint… The stronger your longing, the faster it vibrates! That way, I'll deeply feel how much you miss me."