ISWI Chapter 441-443

Chapter 441: The Fusang Ancient Tree!

"This trip was fruitful—I'm close to mid-Golden Core!"

"The elders and disciples treat us kindly because of Young Master."

"A Talisman Peak Elder even offered to take me as a disciple!"

After Ye Chen's seclusion began, his maids—Lin Ke'er and others—returned from their training, brimming with joy. Without Ye Chen, their Foundation Establishment would've been their limit. Now, they'd reached Golden Core, with potential for more. Grateful, they trained relentlessly.

Spotting Lu Jing idly watching the sunset, they shook their heads. Despite her access to unparalleled resources, Lu Jing lacked ambition, barely cultivating, fixated only on Ye Chen's return. It would only widen the gap between them.

Lin Ke'er, her innocent face poised to offer advice, froze upon sensing Lu Jing's aura. "Lu Jing, how are you already at Foundation Establishment Completion?"

Just half a month ago, Lu Jing was only late Foundation Establishment. Blushing, she lowered her head. "Young Master returned and spent a few days with me. His cultivation is so profound, practicing with him brought immense gains. I haven't fully refined it. He gave me Golden Core spiritual items, and my cultivation's on the verge of breaking through, but I held back, fearing he'd emerge from seclusion with no one to serve. Now that you're back, I can break through. He also promised spiritual water to reach late Golden Core in three years, elevate me to a heavenly spiritual root, and granted me a heart refining technique. Please cover for me, sisters!"

Lu Jing hurried off to seclude herself. The others' expressions were vivid with disbelief. Their tireless efforts—cultivating, training, never wasting a moment—felt futile. Lu Jing, casually tending spiritual plants, cooking odd dishes, tasting them, and watching sunrises and sunsets, was on track to form a Nascent Soul in a few years? Absurdly unfair. They felt robbed.

Lin Ke'er, Sun Ruoxin, and the others realized a harsh truth: choices trumped effort. In that moment, they lost the will to strive.

...

A year passed swiftly. As the Immortal Path's opening neared, prodigies emerged in droves. Rumors of the Great Yang Divine Dynasty's ruins grew, stirring the cultivation world into a frenzy.

Little Roc King Zhang Pengfei, reborn stronger, reached mid-Deity Transformation Stage, earning awe but wisely avoiding talk of revenge against the Fourth Holy Son, aware of his limits.

The Heavenly Intention Holy Land's two crippled legacy disciples became widely known. Yi Qingwu vowed to crush the Fourth Holy Son after reaching Unity, fueling gossip. New talents surfaced, making the cultivation world livelier than ever, reminiscent of a golden era.

But the Heavenly Intention Holy Son, Ying Tiansheng, drew the most attention. The first of the three giants to reach Unity, he ventured to the Endless Sea and faced a mid-Unity elder from Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, a king-body cultivator who'd once rivaled Feng Baiyu but declined to be Holy Son, refusing the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture. Despite his prowess, Ying Tiansheng killed him, leaving no trace.

Everyone knew Ying Tiansheng's actions were retaliation against Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. He then represented Heavenly Intention Holy Land, hunting a veteran Unity rogue cultivator for half a month, ultimately killing him. His dominance spread across the cultivation world. With the other two giants absent, Ying Tiansheng was the unrivaled prodigy of the younger generation.

Beyond his feats, rumors of the Great Yang Divine Dynasty's ruins swirled. Some reported seeing a great sun rising in the Endless Sea's depths, others glimpsed a mirage of a Fusang Ancient Tree. The sea's waters even boiled momentarily in one area. These signs convinced cultivators that the ruins were emerging.

The Great Yang Divine Dynasty was legendary. Its greatest treasures were the Great Yang Immortal Scripture and the Fusang Ancient Tree. The scripture, a supreme Immortal Scripture, was coveted by all for its immense power. The Fusang Ancient Tree, an immortal root, complemented the Moon Laurel Tree as yin to its yang, offering boundless benefits.

For Deity Transformation Stage cultivators, grasping yin-yang principles enhanced their Heaven and Earth Manifestation. Fully mastering and merging these principles led to the Unity Stage. Deeper yin-yang comprehension meant stronger post-breakthrough combat power. If one's yin-yang foundation was lacking at Unity, the Fusang Tree could mend it, making it invaluable to all cultivators and major factions alike, as it could nurture more powerhouses.

When the Heavenly Emperor defeated the Great Yang Divine Dynasty, it sank into the Endless Sea, the Fusang Tree with it. Now, Great Yan Continent—and even Central Continent forces—watched eagerly, hoping to claim a share. The Endless Sea buzzed with activity as cultivators vied to locate and enter the ruins first.

Lin Qingtan was among them, her misty eyes gleaming with anticipation. Her Yin Nether Demon Body prevented her from condensing Yang principles, blocking yin-yang harmony and stalling her cultivation. The Great Yang Divine Dynasty's ruins, whether yielding the Great Yang Immortal Scripture or Fusang Tree-related treasures, could easily resolve her issue.

Suddenly, her brows lifted. The sea beneath her boiled, swirling into a vortex. Massive, dilapidated peaks and palaces flickered faintly below the surface. Lin Qingtan held her breath—the Great Yang Divine Dynasty's ruins had appeared! Without hesitation, she crushed a talisman to summon her Holy Land's powerhouses.

Chapter 442: Gift It to the True Heavy Pupils!

At Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, the terrifying tribulation clouds finally dissipated, and the heavens cleared. Countless disciples and elders watched from afar, gazing at Holy Son Peak with awe. The half-month-long tribulation, the legendary Myriad Tribulation Transformation, had ended. Thunderbolts had cascaded as if turning the cultivation world into a lightning domain. Even Deity Transformation Stage elders shuddered, knowing they'd have been reduced to ash under such a trial.

Unity Stage elders, sensing deeper, felt fear—not just from the thunder, but from a humanoid figure that appeared in the final moments, battling the tribulation's target. Its aura terrified even them, sparking guesses about which era-defining powerhouse left such a mark.

Most shocking was the tribulation's survivor. To endure such a trial and emerge unscathed was unimaginable for a newly ascended Deity Transformation Stage cultivator. All eyes on the figure atop Ascension Peak held deep reverence.

That figure was Ye Chen. Reflecting on the intense battle, he sighed. It was fiercer than the Kunpeng during his Nascent Soul tribulation. But effort yielded rewards. As the tribulation faded, a glowing heavenly dao imprint descended. Ye Chen seized it without hesitation.

Dozens of figures approached—An Miaoli, her lovely face beaming with relief and joy; Senior Brother Hua Yunfei, smiling warmly; Holy Master Feng Baiyu, Elder Mo, Elder He, and others.

"Myriad Tribulation Transformation, just like mine back then," Feng Baiyu, scholarly and teasing, said. "Keep advancing, Ye Chen. I'll hand over the Holy Master role to you, and your Senior Brother can follow you!"

His blatant provocation carried a playful grin.

Hua Yunfei, unfazed, sincerely congratulated, "Congrats, Junior Brother, on reaching the Deity Transformation Stage! One step closer to the Immortal Path."

The elders echoed his sentiments.

Normally, higher realms widen gaps, making cross-realm victories harder. But Ye Chen's tribulation, far surpassing the standard Myriad Tribulation, suggested ordinary Unity cultivators couldn't match him. Curiosity burned about his final opponent. The battle seemed cataclysmic, rivaling a Unity clash, but the tribulation's intensity prevented spirit sense probes.

Holy Master Feng Baiyu asked directly, "Ye Chen, who did you face? It looked humanoid—not the Thunder Emperor. A true immortal, perhaps? When I broke through, I faced the Chaotic Ancient True Immortal and crushed him."

The Chaotic Ancient True Immortal, a top-hundred historical figure, was a testament to Feng's talent.

Ye Chen didn't hide. "I faced a heavy-pupil female cultivator, likely non-human, possibly the Heavenly Emperor's old rival."

Reflecting, he marveled at her prowess. Her mastery of heavy pupils was unimaginable, unlocking vast potential. Same-realm, Ye Chen's heavy pupils alone couldn't compete, but his many trump cards secured victory. Her fury spiked when he used his supreme heart, like a boss's second phase, confirming her identity as the Emperor's foe.

The revelation stunned Feng Baiyu and the others. The Heavenly Emperor, humanity's greatest, had a rival who matched him until immortality. Such a prodigy, perfect in every realm, faced Ye Chen—and lost? Did this mean Ye Chen could outshine the young Emperor in the same realm? Even if an imprint paled compared to the real person, it was staggering.

Their gazes shifted, awe deepening. Feng, who'd boasted moments ago, fell silent before asking, "So, the imprint you got is hers?"

Ye Chen nodded. "It contains her profound insights on heavy pupils."

Envy rippled through the crowd. An ancient heavy pupil cultivator who rivaled the Emperor had mastered its potential. This insight would elevate Ye Chen further. "Why not use it now?" Feng urged, claiming no jealousy.

Ye Chen shook his head. "I just broke through. I'll stabilize my cultivation first, then refine it."

In truth, he had no intention of using it himself. A female heavy pupils cultivator in Central State—the true heavy pupils—was the perfect gift recipient. Gifting it could skyrocket his gains, potentially maxing out his heavy pupils' power, making his gaze lethal. The boost would far surpass using it himself. He wasn't rushed; he was already strong, and the battle had deepened his own heavy pupils' understanding.

Gazing at his primordial spirit in the Yin-Yang Dao Sea, radiating misty purple qi, Ye Chen smirked. Primordial spirits ranged from nine grades to the immortal grade, but a purple-glowing one was unheard of, clearly beyond limits. The Myriad Tribulation, terrifying for an immortal-grade spirit, was heaven's limit—not his. Otherwise, he mused, the heavens might've struck him for a year.

Chapter 443: Three Against One, The Advantage Is Ours!

"Ye Chen, now that you've broken through to the Deity Transformation realm, if you have any questions about the Thunder Emperor Treasure Technique, come find me later. Consider it my congratulatory gift!" Feng Baiyu spoke with grand confidence.

Ye Chen paused briefly in silence. He nearly blurted out, "No need to wait, Holy Master. If you have questions, you can ask me now."

But thinking it might seem rude, he held back. Ye Chen sincerely thanked the Holy Master. Next, Feng Baiyu brought up the matter of their sect's fallen expert, his brows furrowing.

After Heavenly Intention Holy Son killed their elder, retaliation was inevitable. But the enemy was cautious, never acting alone. Even when Feng Baiyu personally intervened, he only managed to leave one foe near death, who was ultimately rescued.

As for Senior Brother Hua Yunfei, who broke through to the Unity realm two months ago, he also acted once but failed to kill the enemy's Unity realm expert for revenge.

Feng Baiyu's face darkened. "They killed one of our Holy Land's people. At the very least, they'll pay with three lives. Hua Yunfei, the ruins of the Great Yang Divine Dynasty are about to emerge. Go there yourself and take three of their lives!"

Hua Yunfei's handsome face showed a helpless smile, but he agreed readily.

Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh. The moment Heavenly Intention Holy Son reached the Unity realm, he targeted their Holy Land's expert.

It was clear that, despite the longstanding feud between their Holy Lands, Heavenly Intention Holy Son's actions were also tied to Ye Chen. He was seeking revenge.

Whether it was purely for his fallen brother or because he discovered Ye Chen had humiliated the fiancée by carving words on her, the fallen expert's death was connected to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen spoke up. "Does this elder have any descendants?"

Senior Brother replied, "He has a daughter, only seventeen. She didn't inherit the King Body, only possessing an Earth Spirit Root. Her talent is too weak… That elder went to the Endless Sea to gather enough contributions to exchange for a treasure from the Holy Land's vault to enhance her spirit root."

Ye Chen nodded. "Ask her if she's willing to join my Ascension Peak. I'll help improve her spirit root, provide cultivation resources, and guide her practice."

The others saw through Ye Chen's intentions and were slightly surprised.

The Holy Land already offered substantial compensation and special treatment for the orphans of fallen elders.

But Ye Chen's wealth was renowned, with rumors that nearly everyone on Ascension Peak had access to immortal scriptures. Sending the elder's daughter there was clearly the best choice.

After a brief chat, the group dispersed. Ye Chen greeted Senior An and the others, then returned to seclusion to stabilize his cultivation. He also needed to process deeper insights into his Heavy Pupil from the recent battle. Normally, he might have spent days detoxifying before retreating. But this time was different.

Ye Chen disliked the feeling of being targeted by an enemy. It unsettled him. So, he resolved to rapidly boost his strength, seize an opportunity, and crush Heavenly Intention Holy Son with a single punch.

Within his sea of spiritual sense, his purple-glowing primordial spirit sat like a deity. Beside it, a towering phantom floated in his spiritual sense—his Heaven and Earth Manifestation, born from comprehending the Pangu World-Opening Diagram.

For now, it was merely a shadow, barely usable. To solidify it, he needed to refine and infuse it with Yin and Yang energies. This was one reason the Deity Transformation realm was so formidable.

At this stage, cultivators began to touch the Charm of the Dao, sensing its profound mysteries. Breaking through became increasingly difficult, as grasping the Charm of the Dao was no simple feat.

Ye Chen possessed the Moon Laurel Tree, under which he could directly comprehend the origin of Taiyin, making cultivation twice as effective. Yet, pure Yin alone wouldn't suffice. He needed the Way of the Yang as well. Only by advancing both together could he continuously improve.

Beyond that, Ye Chen had to consider Deity Transformation realm techniques. He had the Deity Transformation chapters of the Great Emperor Scripture, Eternal Cosmos Sutra, and other immortal scriptures. But he didn't want any of them.

The Heavenly Emperor had already proven with his life that the most suitable immortal scriptures for the Deity Transformation realm were the Great Yang and Yin Scriptures.

Cultivating both simultaneously was incredibly difficult. But if successful, the accumulated Yin-Yang Dao in the Deity Transformation realm would be unimaginably profound. This foundation not only boosted combat strength and enhanced the Heaven and Earth Manifestation but could also transform into a domain upon breaking through to the Unity realm. The deeper the foundation, the stronger the domain in the Unity realm.

Cultivating both scriptures was hard. Obtaining both was even harder. The Great Yang Scripture vanished with the fall of the Great Yang Divine Dynasty, and the Great Ying Scripture disappeared with the collapse of the Moon Palace.

Ye Chen found the Heavenly Emperor's feats almost absurd—he blazed a brilliant path but then destroyed it himself. Truly baffling. Since the Heavenly Emperor, no one could follow this path, not even his successors, as he only passed down his later work, the Heavenly Emperor Scripture, not the other immortal scriptures he cultivated.

For other cultivators, this path was unattainable. But for Ye Chen, it wasn't so daunting. First, the issue of obtaining the scriptures: if he could acquire fragments of the Great Ying and Yang Scriptures, that would be ideal, likely easily obtained through gifting. If not, it wasn't a problem—he could try gifting other scriptures multiple times to eventually obtain them.

Cultivating both simultaneously was challenging, but with his top-tier comprehension, Yin-Yang Dao Sea, and the Moon Laurel Tree's aid, it was feasible. If he could obtain the Fusang Ancient Tree in the future, it would be perfect.

Thus, Ye Chen, previously uninterested in the Great Yang Divine Dynasty ruins, now felt a spark of intrigue. When the ruins emerged, he might take a look. Such a grand event might even draw the fiancée, perhaps bringing the stone tablet with the Battle Secret. Heavenly Intention Holy Son would likely be there too. So, preparations were necessary.

Ye Chen was confident in his strength, but Heavenly Intention Holy Son, a top-tier prodigy, was likely stronger than the fiancée. Even if Ye Chen could win, stopping him from escaping might be difficult. The best approach was to team up with Senior Brother and seize the chance to crush him outright.

If the fiancée was there, she might even turn against Heavenly Intention. After all, as Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden, she wasn't some lovesick fool who'd change completely over a carved word or a mark. Her prior actions suggested more than mere dissatisfaction with Heavenly Intention Holy Son—she wanted him dead.

The enemy of an enemy is a friend. So, if they crossed paths in the Great Yang Divine Dynasty ruins, it could become a three-against-one scenario. With the right timing, location, and allies, the advantage was his!

Meanwhile, the Holy Land's bell tolled. An elder arrived to inform Ye Chen: the Great Yang Divine Dynasty ruins in the Endless Sea had officially opened.