ISWI Chapter 498-499

Chapter 498: Why're you shouting so loud?

As Hua Yunfei was about to step out of the palace, hesitation crossed his face. He'd planned to leave the Eight Sceneries Palace only after becoming invincible in this realm. He was still far from that.

But thinking of Ye Chen and the Diamond Bangle on his wrist, he sighed. Ye Chen, with his immense talent and gratitude, gifted him the bangle and gave Elder Mo the True Phoenix Undying Herb.

In a cultivation world full of scheming sect leaders, such loyalty was rare. As his senior brother, how could he ignore Ye Chen's danger over mere caution? Besides, his inheritance revealed the immortal realm's decline due to foreign enemies. His path would be lonely—having Ye Chen along, sharing moments, would ease that solitude.

Resolved, Hua Yunfei stepped out of the Eight Sceneries Palace for the first time since receiving the Moral Heavenly Venerate's legacy. But then, he saw something and instantly retreated.

"The True Phoenix Undying Herb is potent—Elder Mo's out already. It's settled! Junior Brother's safe. I'll go back to mastering One Qi Transforming Three Purities, strengthening my avatars to protect him, so I won't hesitate next time."

The palace doors slammed shut, purple qi retracted, and space rippled. The Eight Sceneries Palace vanished, leaving the star barren, as if the palace was a fleeting mirage.

…

"Hua Yunfei…"

Ying Tiansheng's eyes blazed gold, his True Martial Eyes scanning, but he frowned, unable to find Hua Yunfei's true body. It likely wasn't here. Annoyed but disdainful, he scoffed.

Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's two Holy Sons—one needed his senior brother as a shield, the other only dared send avatars. Neither had the fearless heart to pursue the dao, unfit to rival him in the future. This was their closest moment to challenging him. Once he grew stronger, they'd lose even that chance.

Suppressing his regret over not devouring Hua Yunfei's origin, Ying turned to the Primordial Thunder God-Slaying Formation amid the awed gazes of Great Shang's crowd.

Thinking of the fiancée and Ye Chen inside, his irritation flared again. His voice thundered, directed into the formation. "Qingwu, I've crushed Hua Yunfei. Open the formation—I'll help you suppress Ye the Fourth!"

Ying, usually refined, avoided nicknames, but Ye Chen's actions infuriated him, slipping out the moniker.

…

Inside the formation, Ye Chen, seeing Hua Yunfei melted by the star river, jolted, his body twitching. Yi Qingwu, uncomfortable, shed tears and shot him disdainful glares. If her mouth weren't occupied, she'd probably mock his reaction.

Ye Chen silenced her, adjusting the image stone's angle for variety later, calming himself. It wasn't that he didn't care for his senior brother—Hua Yunfei was clearly an avatar. So, let it die. He was 25% away from the full Movement Secret. No stopping now.

Ye Chen wasn't worried about his senior brother's avatar being destroyed or his own safety. His Heaven and Earth Law had fully formed—one axe strike should suffice. If not, the Fusang Divine Tree wasn't a joke. "Who comes, who dies" wasn't an exaggeration. So, Ying Tiansheng's presence didn't dampen his focus on collecting the Movement Secret.

But then, Ying's voice thundered through the formation, shaking Ye Chen's eardrums.

Yi Qingwu's eyes signaled, "You're dead!"

Yet her actions didn't falter—she doubled down, as did their primordial spirits above.

Ye Chen didn't want to stop either. The Movement Secret was nearly his; quitting now would be a massive loss. Three-quarters versus the full version was a huge gap. A complete Movement Secret might yield all Nine Secrets—mysterious techniques like "Front, Armament, Battle, Healing, Multiplier, Calculation, Array, Foresight, Movement."

Some, like the Battle, Armament, and Healing Secrets, had left marks in history, while others were mere legends. Getting them all would be a game-changer. No way he'd miss this.

Ying's roars were just background noise, spicing things up. But ignoring him entirely wasn't ideal.

Ye Chen looked down at Yi Qingwu. "Give me the Primordial Thunder God-Slaying Formation's core token, or I'll stop now, leaving your '||||\' symbol forever incomplete."

Her pupils shrank, stunned by his shameless threat. He loved her, sure, but this was beyond her expectations. Still, she didn't want to stop. The thought of Ying stuck outside thrilled her. Humiliated, she lowered her head, freeing one hand from her brace to pull the formation core from her storage bracelet and toss it to him.

Ye Chen caught it, smiling. Her silence and refusal to open the formation might make Ying suspicious, potentially straining their bond. Ye Chen was here to join their dynamic, not ruin it. With the core in hand, he could claim he seized it, and Yi Qingwu tried but failed to resist.

Refining the core, he heard Ying's thunderous voice again. "Qingwu, why no response? Trouble? Open the formation—I'll crush Ye the Fourth!"

Ye Chen rolled his eyes. He hated "Ye the Fourth"—so tacky. Next time he saw Yao Gu, that guy better not puff up again. Inflated or not, Ye Chen owed him a beating for starting that nickname.

Gripping the core, he refined it instantly. The formation shifted. A hundred-meter-tall phantom of Ye Chen's face and upper body appeared outside, towering like a giant.

Ying's pupils contracted. Ye Chen could communicate with the outside from within the Primordial Thunder God-Slaying Formation? He'd seized control? Bad news. What would happen to the fiancée? Was she suffering?

Ying's heart clenched with worry. But seeing Ye Chen's phantom in pristine robes, he sighed in relief—at least his worst fear hadn't happened.

Ye Chen's phantom glared at Ying. "Why're you shouting so loud?"

Chapter 499: Mahayana Protector!

"Why're you shouting so loud? So smug over killing my senior brother's avatar? Come in and face me if you dare!"

Ye Chen's towering phantom glared down at Ying Tiansheng, voice cold.

Ying, thinking of Ye Chen seizing the formation's core, couldn't help imagining the fiancée's fate. His eyes blazed with killing intent. But with her inside, status unknown, he restrained himself, glaring coldly. "Ye Chen, open the formation, and I'll spare you today. Otherwise, you'll end like your senior brother's avatar."

Ye Chen's phantom was about to retort but suddenly closed its eyes, shuddering lightly, exhaling long and slow. After a while, he opened his eyes, radiating a sage-like calm. Waving a hand, he started, "Don't suck…"

Pausing, he shifted. "I know you're impatient, but hold on. I'm done here. I'll be out soon—wait a bit." His phantom vanished.

Ying frowned, puzzled.

Was Ye Chen ill?

Whatever it was, it wasn't good.

Killing intent surging, he shielded the area with divine light to hide his actions. His Devouring Heaven Demon Art was too dangerous—if known, others would guard against him, hindering his growth. In Central Continent, he'd befriended prodigies only to betray them, saving time and effort. If his art was exposed, that tactic would fail. Concealed, he unleashed countless divine flowers, bombarding the formation.

Boom!

Terrifying waves echoed, but divine lightning from the formation neutralized most attacks.

Ying's immense power barely shook it.

"The Primordial Thunder God-Slaying Formation, eighth-grade pinnacle, unbreakable below Mahayana," he muttered, eyes dark.

The formation was formidable but not invincible—its materials lasted only seven days before collapsing. But Ying couldn't wait five more days. Who knew what Ye Chen might do to the fiancée? He contacted his protector. "Senior Fang Qing, please act—help me break this formation!"

A reply came. "Wait a few days. If I'm exposed, you'll draw more attention."

Ying couldn't wait. "Senior, my fiancée's inside, possibly in danger. I can't delay!"

No response.

Ying's eyes shadowed with doubt. His protector had always been dismissive, aiding only with origin enhancement, ignoring other matters. Even mentioning the fiancée didn't sway them. Was he not the sole heir to the Devouring Heaven True Immortal's legacy? Would he need to compete for it?

Suspicions aside, the formation had to break. He spoke again. "Inside is Ye Chen, the Heavenly Emperor's heir, with a Supreme Heart and Heavy Pupils. Devouring him would yield more origin than all I've consumed. His senior brother's true body isn't here, nor are other Heavenly Evolution Holy Land powerhouses. This is our only chance. Delay, and Heavenly Evolution's forces will arrive, leaving no opportunity!"

This time, a response came.

"Good!"

The Heavy Pupils and Supreme Heart far surpassed most king or divine bodies, not even in the same league. If Ying Tiansheng could devour them, the gains would eclipse all prior absorptions. This was indeed a prime opportunity.

An old man stepped from the void, unremarkable, frail, white-haired, as if a breeze could topple him. Yet his appearance silenced the Great Shang Immortal City. He became the world's center, drawing all eyes. Many cultivators bled from their eyes just glimpsing him, as if he were a god too divine to behold, no longer akin to ordinary cultivators.

Nearby sect powerhouses trembled. This was the aura of a Mahayana cultivator, their bodies evolving toward immortality, bearing true dao.

A Mahayana being had appeared? Shock surged through all.

The old man calmly raised a withered hand, pointing at the Primordial Thunder God-Slaying Formation. No divine light or ripples—just a gesture.

Inside, Ye Chen, listening to Yi Qingwu recite the remaining Movement Secret, snapped his head up. His powerful spiritual sense screamed danger from the old man. Even with the formation, he felt unsafe.

Mahayana! Ying Tiansheng had a Mahayana protector? Was his luck this insane? With the Nine Secrets, origin-devouring art, and now a Mahayana ally, he seemed even stronger than Hua Yunfei.

Ye Chen had no desire to test a Mahayana foe—the gap was too vast, a brush with death. But he wasn't panicked, ready to open his small world. With the Fusang Divine Tree inside, anyone entering would die. If the old man stayed out, Elder Mo was no match, but Heavenly Evolution Holy Land wasn't helpless. They'd send powerhouses to save him soon. No big deal.

Yi Qingwu, sipping water to recover, stopped reciting, frowning at the outside. Worry creased her stunning face. "I didn't know Heavenly Intention Holy Son had a Mahayana protector. This formation can't stop a Mahayana strike. I'll plead for you, citing your gift of the treasure herb, to buy time. Contact Heavenly Evolution Holy Land now—get them to send powerhouses fast."

In this crisis, she dropped the act, revealing her true heart. She didn't want Ye Chen to die. Before, she might've spared him as a useful pawn to provoke Ying. Now, her concern was genuine.

Though Ye Chen's actions often humiliated her, his feelings were undeniably sincere, like her late father's care. With her father gone, she couldn't bear to see Ye Chen die before her, devoured by Ying Tiansheng.