ISWI Chapter 475-476

Chapter 475: Return

Ye Chen's spirit sense confirmed the ship had returned to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. Elders were already disembarking, gathering at the bow. Time pressed, so he abandoned guessing where Lin Qingtan hid his name, pulling her to join them.

The seasoned elders, seeing Ye Chen's spirited demeanor and Lin Qingtan's radiant aura, understood what had transpired. No surprise—only knowing looks. Lin Qingtan, an elder of Harem Peak, had received lavish gifts; of course, the Holy Son would claim her. As long as it wasn't forced, it was merely his style, not their concern.

They noted her transformation. This journey had skyrocketed her potential. She might not rival Ye Chen or Hua Yunfei, but she could walk the immortal path, reach Mahayana, and become an ancient sect leader. All thanks to Ye Chen's gifts. They'd be just as willing in her place.

Back at the Holy Land, elders dispersed. Lin Qingtan tilted her head, winked, and flew gracefully to Holy Son Peak. Ye Chen, pained by the elders' unsurprised reactions, felt misunderstood. He was the one coerced, not the aggressor.

As he prepared to leave, Feng Baiyu signaled him to wait. Expecting Heavenly Emperor Hall news, Ye Chen approached, but Feng Baiyu hesitated. "For the Holy Land's reputation, maybe send that elder's orphan to my Holy Master Peak."

Ye Chen's mouth twitched. "Holy Master, I'm not that kind of man! It's—"

Feng Baiyu cut him off. "I know you're not. You win people with lavish gifts, subtle and grand. I get it, but outsiders don't. Promise me: don't touch that orphan for a century, even if she initiates. Otherwise, send her to me for training."

Ye Chen, speechless, walked away. Flying to Ascension Peak, he dismissed reputation concerns. Why explain himself?

His first task was visiting Senior An to check on her. An Miaoli's soul and An Yuyi's body were intriguing, but he wasn't overly eager. His body felt off after so long away. But at An Miaoli's cave, he frowned. Her restrictions once granted him access, open or not. Now, they repelled him—his permissions revoked.

With An's free-spirited nature, this was odd. An accident? Or a critical seclusion barring all disturbances?

As Ye Chen pondered, An Yuyi arrived, beaming. Seeing his confusion before the sealed restriction, she explained with a smile, "Senior Brother, no need to worry. Two months ago, Aunt left with some elders to explore a ruin. She gained much and broke through to late Nascent Soul upon return. She's now in secluded cultivation to reach Deity Transformation, aiming to aid you, Holy Son. The process is risky, so she revoked both our permissions to avoid disturbance. Before secluding, she told me to assure you she'll have a surprise when she emerges."

Ye Chen frowned slightly. Something felt off. An Miaoli reached mid-Nascent Soul after he gifted the Enlightenment Tea Tree, just three to four years ago. Late Nascent Soul was already astonishingly fast—now aiming for Deity Transformation? Despite gifting her the Visualization Diagram, this pace seemed rushed, unlike her usual calm demeanor. Had her ruin exploration yielded massive gains?

He hesitated, eyeing the restriction but ultimately did nothing. Disturbing a critical seclusion could be disastrous. He'd wait for her to emerge and clarify.

"Holy Son, are you unwell? Is the nether poison acting up?" An Yuyi, petite with a youthful face, radiated charm despite her domineering figure—a striking contrast. She carried the black iron greatsword he'd gifted, taller than her, slung horizontally across her back, the quintessential heavy-sword loli.

Unwilling to rebuff her with her aunt absent, Ye Chen nodded at her expectant gaze, leading her to his Holy Son residence to guide her swordsmanship. Grateful, An Yuyi repaid him with gentle, thorough detoxification.

A day later, she left, brimming with sword insights. Ye Chen began his seclusion, expecting it to be brief. Between cultivating with Lin Qingtan and refining Phoenix Immortal Fire, his foundation was over-nourished, indirectly boosting his cultivation. A month at most, and he'd reach mid-Deity Transformation.

He also planned to use some Phoenix tail feathers to craft Dao-grade robes for Senior An, his master, and Senior Sister. Raw feathers wouldn't trigger feedback, but finished items might yield Extreme Dao Weapons. He'd given the Diamond Band to his Senior Brother, and the Moon Palace would return to Yi Qingwu for an immortal weapon burst.

Weapons weren't always better stronger—Extreme Dao Weapons were usable, unlike immortal ones, which only quasi-immortals could wield freely. Holy Lands used arrays or costly bloodline methods to activate them partially. Unless he obtained the Nine Secrets' Armament Secret, immortal weapons were mere collectibles, less practical than Extreme Dao Weapons for now. More Extreme Dao Weapons were the reliable choice.

Chapter 476: A Small Ripple!

On the third day after returning to Holy Son Peak, Ye Chen announced his seclusion. News of his exploits in the Endless Sea spread, shaking Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. Disciples were awestruck. In such a short time, their Fourth Holy Son had grown terrifyingly powerful.

He suppressed Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden, seizing her treasures and shredding her robes. Facing Heavenly Intention Holy Son's ambush, he didn't retreat but unleashed Heaven and Earth Manifestation, injuring him across a major realm. When the long-dormant Golden Crow Clan emerged, he fought three alone, shooting them down with his bow—invincible. Central Continent's news confirmed he was this generation's Heavenly Emperor heir.

To disciples, Ye Chen's combat prowess now rivaled the three giants, with talent surpassing them. He was poised to become Great Yan Continent's top youth. Ascension Peak grew more mystical, coveted.

But it no longer held open recruitment—Ye Chen found it too troublesome, switching to an invitation-only system. Only the most outstanding female disciples could meet him, personally selected for Ascension Peak. It felt like building a harem, yet eager female disciples multiplied.

Great Yan's cultivation world echoed this shock. No one expected the overlooked Fourth Holy Son to rise so far. At Heavenly Intention Holy Land, Yi Qingwu, practicing the Movement Secret, smiled—she was thrilled by Ye Chen's strength.

Heavenly Intention Holy Son, eyes narrowed, targeted Little Roc King Zhang Pengfei, planning to kill and devour him before heading to Central Continent to scheme against Ye Chen.

...

At Sword Sect, Gu Yunyun, now at Deity Transformation, smiled softly. The Heavenly Emperor heir title felt distant to her, a former small-sect cultivator, but for her disciple, it was no surprise. To her, Ye Chen was the world's finest—Heavenly Emperor reincarnated? She'd believe it.

In Central Continent's feared Demon Sect, Nether God Holy Land's forbidden zone, a pair of delicate feet dangled in a pool of specters, a bell on her ankle chiming sweetly.

Hearing of the Heavenly Emperor heir, she laughed, voice lovelier than the bell. "So Senior Brother is the heir! No wonder he's so generous, giving me his heart and core yet still alive. The Emperor had his bones dug out, core shattered by heaven's wrath, and rebuilt. Those spiritual flames and techniques? He probably didn't care, with his legacy. So bad, robbing me just to gift it back and tease me! Next time, I'll stomp his face with my feet."

Manjusaka materialized, far more solid than before. She scoffed coldly. "A man who toys with hearts. Haven't you heard? He spares no one, not even an elder's orphan, and shatters women's clothes in battle. As your Dao partner, you tolerate this?"

The girl's laughter lingered, undeterred.

Su Yuxuan, the little demoness, laughed innocently. "What's the issue? He tempted me with core-forming treasures, forcing me to eat that thing. He even has designs on you, Master. Sure, he's greedy for women, but he's not bad. You've found a way to forge your body, but the material gap is huge. We might need his help later!"

Manjusaka scoffed. "You're one of the five Nether Sons. Win as the sole Nether Son, and the Holy Land's resources will cover my needs. Why beg him?"

Su Yuxuan giggled. "Master, I'm the weakest of the five, barely at Deity Transformation! Hearing about Senior Brother, I'm tempted to ask him to help me eliminate the other four!"

Manjusaka fell silent, exasperated. Su Yuxuan, unfazed, sparkled with anticipation for the immortal path's opening, eager to see Ye Chen's shock when she emerged as Nether Son in Central Continent.

...

In the Northern Domain, the Golden Crow Princess, exhausted and depleted from her journey, barely reached her clan. Despite her Deity Transformation stage, she was drained to the brink. Yet excitement drove her to the hall.

"Ancestors, Father, Prince Lu Ya, look what I brought! A Fusang Divine Tree tendril! Nurture it, and we'll have a new tree, propelling our clan back to the top ten, boosting Prince Lu Ya's talent further!"

Her joy met silence. After a pause, Lu Ya, clad in black robes, golden hair blazing like a sun god, sighed. "The day you returned, the elders sensed a new Fusang Tree—already mature, not newborn. This tendril can't grow another."

The Princess's eyes widened. Her trip to Great Yan—beaten by Ye Chen, extorted, humiliated—all for nothing? Despair overwhelmed her, and she fainted, carried off to heal and restore her essence.

The hall fell quiet. The clan leader, her father, spoke grimly. "That Ye Chen, the Heavenly Emperor's heir, likely held the Fusang Tree, masking its fate. Knowing our revival technique, he tricked you with the tendril, then taunted us by revealing the truth. It's an affront to our clan—utterly reprehensible."

Lu Ya, eyes like lightning, spoke confidently. "Father, no need for anger. When the immortal path opens and I meet Ye Chen in Central Continent, I'll slay him myself to avenge my sister."

The clan leader nodded, trusting Lu Ya's exceptional talent and near-pure bloodline. A step from Mahayana, he was among this era's likeliest to reach immortality's end. Against him, even the Heavenly Emperor's heir would fall.