ISWI Chapter 513-514

Chapter 513: Ready to Deliver Gifts!

Two years passed in a blink. Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, Ascension Peak, Holy Son Hall depths.

Ye Chen exhaled slowly. Most of these two years were spent in seclusion. Weekly, he'd relax, give gifts, bond with Senior An, explore new magic pattern uses with Lin Qingtan, or nudge the ever-slacking Lu Jing. Through infusion, he helped Lu Jing, recently at mid-Golden Core, break through to late Golden Core, letting her coast to victory.

In the Central Continent, two years of battles elevated top prodigies. Some ranked a prodigy list based on achievements, origins, talents, and cultivation.

The Heavenly Emperor Hall frequently sent envoys urging Ye Chen to the Central Continent, offering a deal: suppress one of the myriad clans' or human race's top ten prodigies, and they'd provide news of a life-extending treasure.

Ye Chen scoffed, ignoring them. An empty promise, just information? Utterly stingy.

The Heavenly Emperor Hall treated him like a fool. This only eased his conscience about freeloading from them. Ye Chen's growth was astonishing. He fully mastered the Movement Secret and the Multiplier Secret.

Occasionally eating a peach rapidly advanced his Indestructible Body. Training under the Fusang Divine Tree and Moon Laurel Immortal Tree, he refined Yin-Yang Qi. His cultivation progress was staggering.

In just two years, he soared from mid-Deity Transformation to its peak. His Yin-Yang Qi was perfected, brimming, unable to hold more. His Heaven and Earth Manifestation reached a thousand meters. If he faced Heavenly Intention Holy Son again, even full defense wouldn't save him from being split.

Ye Chen could now prepare for the Unity realm. Reaching it would roughly match the top tier. But he wouldn't break through yet. Heavenly Desire Divine Maiden awaited him. Essentially, her protector was a cultivation tool. At Nascent Soul, she absorbed all the protector's spirit sense for her first nirvana, forcing them to restart.

At Deity Transformation, she'd take their Yin-Yang Qi. These energies were vital for Unity, where they'd fuse to form a personal Dao domain. The deeper the foundation, the stronger the post-breakthrough power and domain. So, before breaking through, he'd deliver benefits to the divine maiden.

Breaking into Unity wasn't just about perfecting Yin-Yang Qi. Other requirements existed. Unity paths were myriad but boiled down to three: True Self, All Beings, and Heaven and Earth.

No path was superior; differences lay in the method's quality. The top methods allowed breaking through with two paths. Major Holy Lands and ancient immortal families had exclusive methods for dual-path breakthroughs. Triple-path methods? Almost nonexistent.

Yet, reportedly, a peerless genius, creator of one Nine Secret, devised a unique triple-path method. The Heavenly Emperor sought it, offering to marry into that ancient immortal family. They had mutual needs, a transaction. But it ended in conflict, erupting into a fight at the wedding.

The marriage never happened. The Heavenly Emperor suffered losses, reportedly losing several close brothers. After achieving immortality, he uprooted that ancient immortal family.

The triple-path ascension method became mere legend. Thus, even Holy Land cultivators wouldn't dream of it. But Ye Chen was different… If it existed, he could trigger it.

With his deep foundation, a critical hit on Yin-Yang Qi, and a triple-path ascension, he couldn't imagine how strong he'd be in the Unity realm. He might single-handedly sweep Central Continent's human and myriad clans' top ten prodigies.

But… Unless the Immortal Path opened, without life-extending divine medicine from the Heavenly Emperor Hall, he wouldn't go to the Central Continent.

…

After reaching late Deity Transformation, Ye Chen went to Holy Master Peak to report and claim his Unity method. He planned to gift it to Heavenly Desire Divine Maiden. Though Heavenly Desire Sect likely had dual-path methods, their heritage paled compared to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's. Their method's quality would be inferior. Gifting it could trigger a top-tier Unity method.

After informing Senior An he'd be away, Ye Chen headed to the Holy Master Hall. Holy Master Feng Baiyu, two months prior, broke through to Mahayana, becoming a great power. The celebration was grand, attended by the Great Yan Continent's top cultivators.

Hua Yunfei was in Central Continent, and Ye Chen didn't care for the Holy Master title. Senior Sister Dantai Xuan cared even less. So Feng Baiyu happily remained Holy Master.

At Cloud Summit Heaven Palace, Ye Chen saw Feng Baiyu and Elder Mo drinking. After Mo repaired his Immortal Platform, he returned to the Holy Land and was promoted to Supreme Elder, known only to a few at his request.

"What divine medicine did you eat to fix your Immortal Platform? Your aura suggests you're close to Immortal Platform Second Heaven," Feng Baiyu asked, fanning himself with a Golden Crow feather fan.

Mo waved it off. "Just an ordinary treasure. Luck patched my Platform, but it's fragile—might shatter if I fight."

Feng Baiyu's lips twitched, clearly skeptical, suspecting he'd already broken through.

Ye Chen, watching the two sly foxes, approached helplessly and bowed.

"Greetings, Holy Master, Elder Mo! I've reached late Deity Transformation and plan to visit Heavenly Desire Sect. I'd ask Elder Mo to protect me. My Yin-Yang Qi is perfected. After preparing, I'll break into Unity. Please, Holy Master, select a suitable Unity method from the sect's treasury…"

As the Holy Son, he had this privilege.

Both raised brows, marveling at his rapid progress.

Chapter 514: Star River Clan

Both were stunned by Ye Chen's breakthrough speed. In just over five years, he went from early Deity Transformation to its peak. Such cultivation speed was absurd. Many couldn't even break through Refining Qi that fast.

Regarding Ye Chen's request, Elder Mo had no issue. He'd asked him multiple times about going to Central Continent, seeming more eager than him, as if itching to flaunt before old friends.

Feng Baiyu, glancing at Ye Chen in surprise, didn't pry. He said, "You need a Unity method from the Holy Land? That makes me believe you might not have the Heavenly Emperor's inheritance."

Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's Holy Sons often ignored the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture, having other inheritances. None requested Unity methods.

Ye Chen, glad someone finally believed he wasn't the Heavenly Emperor's heir, sighed, "Exactly! The Heavenly Emperor Hall is making me a scapegoat. I suspect they have a true heir, using me to draw fire!"

Feng Baiyu raised a brow, nodding. "Possible. Those who stayed behind had no Dao prospects, useless in the Immortal Realm. Such reclusive forces have little fresh blood, relying on family bloodlines for power. Family forces are often unreliable, depending on the descendants' caliber. The Heavenly Emperor Hall's founder was mediocre; later generations likely followed, treating the Hall as their own. In ancient times, immortal families outnumbered the Holy Lands, but most fell. Holy Lands dominate now."

Ye Chen chuckled. The Holy Master's analysis made sense. The Heavenly Emperor's heir position might've been claimed internally.

…

Ye Chen didn't care much. He'd already freeloaded the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid—not a bad deal. He looked at Feng Baiyu. "Holy Master's insight cuts through the fog. It might be true!"

Feng Baiyu grinned. "The Holy Land treasury has a Unity method from Heavenly Evolution Ancestor, a dual-path of True Self and All Beings, but it's low-grade. I don't recommend it. Dual-path methods are best with Heaven and Earth Dao, aiding Mahayana's heaven-and-earth comprehension. As Heavenly Evolution's Fourth Holy Son, you'll surpass Hua Yunfei. As Holy Master, I won't let a Unity method hold you back."

"I have a high-grade Unity method, All Beings and Heaven and Earth. Not top-grade, but I recommend it. Top-grade methods are rare, held by the Central Continent's elite Holy Lands or the strongest myriad clans, hard to find. Plus, this high-grade method has annotations from Chaotic Ancient True Immortal, a top-ten human True Immortal. Its value rivals top-grade methods!"

Feng Baiyu spoke proudly, handing Ye Chen a jade slip with grand flair. Ye Chen accepted it eagerly. Flattery paid off. A high-grade Unity method was immensely valuable. The Holy Master was generous!

Ye Chen was puzzled. Since when did Chaotic Ancient True Immortal rank among humanity's top ten? Though famous, he was typically listed in the top hundred. The cultivation world loved rankings, and Ye Chen had seen several True Immortal lists—none placed Chaotic Ancient in the top fifty. But he knew Holy Master Feng Baiyu inherited Chaotic Ancient's legacy. Hyping him up made sense; it elevated Fang's own status. So…

Ye Chen stayed silent, not exposing him. But Elder Mo opened her mouth, raising a brow. "Holy Master, when did Chaotic Ancient hit top ten? Top fifty's a stretch. He's known as a brute. Strong, sure, but his insight into Dao and techniques? Mediocre. I heard he struggled writing his Chaotic Ancient Immortal Scripture, copying chunks of the Great Emperor Scripture. The result? A mid-tier scripture, far inferior to the Great Emperor's. If I knew him, I'd tell him to copy it all. Few learn two immortal scriptures—nobody'd notice. So his annotations? Probably useless."

Feng Baiyu's face soured. "Who calls Chaotic Ancient a brute? He was an invincible True Immortal, crushing all with raw power. Why bother with deep Dao insights? The rumor he copied the Great Emperor Scripture? Laughable. An immortal's actions aren't copying! It's a distant exchange of Dao insights, embedding gains in his scripture! It's respect, got it?"

The Holy Master was riled.

Ye Chen couldn't help but grin. Elder Mo, restored, was getting cheekier. Not wanting to hear Feng Baiyu's lecture on the six differences between reference and plagiarism, Ye Chen bowed. "Thank you, Holy Master, for the method. I'll return to visit!"

He drifted from Cloud Summit Heaven Palace. Elder Mo nodded earnestly, echoing Feng Baiyu's words, easing his expression. As his protector, he rose to follow. But before leaving, he added, "Holy Master's right, but thinking it over… Take Chaotic Ancient's White Tiger Kill. It's too similar to Imperial Dragon Qi—same mechanics, just swapping dragon for tiger, gold light for silver. Worse, it's less refined than Imperial Dragon Qi. So, Chaotic Ancient definitely copied!"

He bolted, leaving Feng Baiyu clenching his fists… fuming!

…

In the Great Yan Continent's far north, the calm void shattered. A man, radiant as stars, stepped out, holding a jade slip, a smile on his lips.

"Didn't expect Great Yan Continent to hold Star River Immortal's ruins. The gains here will let me crush my rival in Central Continent, reclaiming my spot among the top ten prodigies! And I snagged a top-grade Unity method. Though I'm in Unity, it'll bolster my clan's heritage!"

Satisfied, he muttered, then looked up. "Seventh Ancestor, has the Heavenly Emperor's heir left his Holy Land? Since I'm in the Great Yan Continent, killing that coward would boost our Star River Clan's fame!"