ISWI Chapter 393-394

Chapter 393: The Holy Son Is Too Fast!

At that moment, Zhang Pengfei could take no more. This was too much. But he didn't retort, unwilling to provoke the Heavenly Intention Holy Land further. With a thought, his colossal Sword Roc surged forward. The entire roc transformed into a mountain-sized sword, slashing toward Ye Chen with earth-shattering force. It was like a heavenly blade, poised to cleave through all creation.

Zhang Pengfei channeled his pent-up rage. With this battle, he'd make the entire cultivation world know: I, Zhang Pengfei, am not just some useless womanizer!

"Ye the Fourth, fight me!"

Humiliated time and again, Zhang Pengfei roared, unable to hold back any longer. His Heaven and Earth Manifestation spread its wings, surging toward Ye Chen, transforming into a heavenly sword poised to cleave through all creation. Where the sword passed, the void itself split in two.

Onlookers far away felt its aura, their hearts trembling with fear. Just watching, they felt a splitting headache, as if the sword was slashing into their spiritual sense.

"This strike is terrifying—at least late Deity Transformation level!"

"Zhang Pengfei's fused his Sword Roc Body with his Heaven and Earth Manifestation for this attack. His talent is extraordinary!"

"I wonder how the Holy Son will counter it."

"With Heavy Pupils seeing through all and the Kun Peng Treasure Technique's supreme speed, this sword, no matter how terrifying, likely can't threaten him. This will be a clash of titans!"

The crowd buzzed, awed by Zhang Pengfei's display. The two Heavenly Intention legacy disciples watched coldly. They didn't believe Zhang Pengfei could defeat Ye the Fourth. If Ye Chen, now at late Nascent Soul, couldn't suppress Zhang Pengfei, he wouldn't have been able to kill Ying Tianjing back in his early Nascent Soul days.

Still, Zhang Pengfei's strike was powerful enough to force Ye Chen to reveal some of his tricks, giving them a better understanding of his Heavy Pupils. Later, after Ye Chen's victory, they'd crush him.

On the jade boat, Fan Qinghe's eyes sparkled brighter as the fight began. Her movements took on a wilder edge. That wildness seeped into her music, stirring the hearts of everyone present.

…

Ye Chen, locked onto by the heavenly sword and bearing its full pressure, remained calm. Contrary to expectations, he didn't dodge with the Kunpeng Treasure Technique or counter with the True Dragon Treasure Technique. Under countless gazes, he simply raised one hand. As if to block the strike with his bare hand.

This?

The entire crowd fell silent. What was the Fourth Holy Son doing? This heavenly sword wasn't something flesh could withstand. How could he possibly block it with his hand? Without resisting, not just his hand—his entire body would be cleaved in two. The Fourth Holy Son wasn't a fool; he wouldn't court death. But how could he possibly stop this?

The two Heavenly Intention legacy disciples narrowed their eyes. Even Zhang Pengfei himself paused, startled. He knew a prodigy like Ye Chen wouldn't be arrogant enough to throw his life away. There had to be a reason for this move.

A bad feeling crept over him. But it was too late to turn back—the arrow was loosed. His only option was to seize this chance and cleave Ye Chen apart.

Zhang Pengfei held nothing back, unleashing every ounce of his strength. As the heavenly sword descended, it swelled even larger. Before it even landed, the thousand-meter-wide Pure Moon River split in two. Its terrifying sword aura swept across half of White Emperor City.

Countless faces paled, hearts racing as if facing annihilation. Even several late Deity Transformation cultivators felt their expressions shift. They sensed a threat in this sword—a strike capable of slaying anything below the Unity stage.

All this unfolded in a flash. In a thousandth of a moment, the heavenly sword fell. And the Fourth Holy Son truly didn't dodge or evade. He took it head-on…

"Boom…"

The moment of impact sent a deafening shockwave reverberating through the air. White Emperor City itself seemed to tremble. But the next instant, the sound of cascading water drowned out everything. Even the two Heavenly Intention legacy disciples widened their eyes in disbelief, momentarily speechless.

Between heaven and earth, only the sound of countless water droplets crashing down remained. And for good reason—the scene before them was simply too astonishing. The heavenly sword, vast as a mountain peak, halted the instant it touched Ye Chen's palm. It couldn't descend even a fraction further.

Ye Chen's arm didn't budge an inch. His figure stood tall and unwavering on the boat. Only the small boat beneath him shattered under the force. A torrent of water surged skyward, as if a starry river had risen over the Pure Moon River, radiant and dreamlike.

Yet Ye Chen stood amidst the deluge, untouched by a single drop. Everyone, including Zhang Pengfei, was stunned. No one had expected the Fourth Holy Son to actually block the strike. And to do so with such effortless grace.

But Ye Chen gave them no time to marvel. The moment he stopped the heavenly sword, a terrifying surge of spiritual power erupted from his hand. The power was overwhelming.

Zhang Pengfei's Heaven and Earth Manifestation couldn't withstand it. The Sword Roc let out a mournful cry before exploding in a burst of dazzling light. With his manifestation destroyed, Zhang Pengfei's vision darkened, blood seeping from his eyes, nose, and ears.

A Heaven and Earth Manifestation was tied to one's primordial spirit. Normally, its destruction would only damage the spirit, recoverable with time. But Ye Chen's mana carried the aura of imperial dragon qi, not merely destroying but annihilating.

In that moment, Zhang Pengfei was filled with dread. Future prospects, fame—none of it mattered anymore. Only one thought consumed him: "The Fourth Holy Son is too terrifying. I need to flee!"

Not just from White Emperor City, but from the Great Yan Continent entirely. The farther, the better. The thought barely formed before Zhang Pengfei flapped his wings, moving at an astonishing speed toward the city's edge.

But Ye Chen's eyes shimmered with chaotic qi. Zhang Pengfei's body froze in place, his wings unable to move. Though the boat beneath Ye Chen had shattered, he stood firmly on the water's surface. Raising a hand, he unleashed a golden dragon that roared toward Zhang Pengfei. The next moment, the dragon shadow struck.

Zhang Pengfei's body exploded, scattering a mist of blood across the Pure Moon River.

…

Only then did the onlookers, still reeling from Ye Chen stopping the heavenly sword with one hand, snap out of their shock. Before they could process their awe, they were plunged into even deeper astonishment.

The entire Pure Moon River fell silent. The world itself seemed to freeze. Everything had happened too fast. From Zhang Pengfei transforming into the heavenly sword, to Ye Chen blocking it, to Zhang Pengfei being obliterated with a single punch—it all took place in roughly two breaths.

Most cultivators had expected the Fourth Holy Son to win. They'd anticipated he'd defeat the Little Roc King, Zhang Pengfei. But no one could have imagined he'd win 'this' quickly, 'this' effortlessly. From start to finish, he hadn't moved a single step. Cross-realm battles were known, even witnessed. But crushing a prodigy a full realm above, like squashing an ant? That was unheard of.

The crowd's hearts churned like stormy seas. Their gazes toward Ye Chen were filled with awe.

Yao Gu, who'd been sneaking glances at the divine maiden, paled. He recalled his fight with his brother-in-law a few days ago. He'd thought Ye Chen was only slightly stronger, winning only because of his Heavy Pupils.

But now? Slightly stronger? Try a billion times stronger! Even without Heavy Pupils, Ye Chen could probably slap him to death with a single hand!

Chapter 394: A Mayfly Glimpses the Blue Sky!

Yao Gu had harbored some resentment toward Ye Chen. With Yao Xi as the connection, he figured he was at least the little brother-in-law. Yet last time, Ye Chen hadn't held back at all, thrashing him without mercy. And now he was competing for the divine maiden? This was strength without righteousness—utterly shameless.

But now, staring at the blood mist scattering across the sky, tingeing even the moonlight in Fan Qinghe's hands with red, Yao Gu realized he'd been too harsh. His brother-in-law had clearly gone easy on him. He'd never even mentioned the fight, obviously to spare Yao Gu's pride. His brother-in-law had quietly done so much for him, yet Yao Gu had grumbled in his heart. That was truly uncalled for.

As for the divine maiden? Yao Gu cast a reluctant glance at Fan Qinghe. Forget it. His brother-in-law had done so much for him. How could he shamelessly pretend otherwise? Fan Qinghe could go to his brother-in-law!

Yao Gu chose to step back. He only hoped they could share a meal together someday.

…

No one noticed Yao Gu's whirlwind of thoughts. Even if they had, no one would've cared. All eyes were fixed on the Fourth Holy Son standing on the water's surface.

Their gazes brimmed with shock, awe, and deep apprehension. The Fourth Holy Son was too fast! Yet, despite his speed, he'd displayed so much that inspired reverence.

Beyond his Heavy Pupils, his physical body was invincible. He'd blocked that sword with sheer flesh, without budging an inch. Only the boat beneath him and the river water had crumbled under the pressure, exploding outward. And that final punch—terrifying. His True Dragon Treasure Technique had clearly reached a new realm. Its offensive power was staggering.

This spoke to the Holy Son's astounding comprehension. The Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques was formidable but notoriously difficult. Even grasping it was no small feat. Advancing further demanded extraordinary talent.

Yet, in just a few years, the Holy Son had improved so much since slaying the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's avatar. It was downright terrifying. The more they thought about it, the more their awe of Ye Chen surged.

Some even felt that, aside from his younger age, shorter cultivation time, and lower realm, Ye Chen was in no way inferior to the Yao, Hua, and Ying titans. In terms of talent, he might even surpass them.

The water's surface returned to calm. The prodigies, who'd been itching to join the fray for Fan Qinghe, now sat obediently. Their bravado was gone, replaced by clear, subdued gazes. If speaking weren't inappropriate, they might've exclaimed, "The divine maiden rightfully belongs to the Fourth Holy Son!"

…

All eyes turned to the two Heavenly Intention legacy disciples hovering in the sky. The other prodigies were clearly out of the fight. Even Yao Gu had stopped sneaking glances. Only the two legacy disciples above seemed qualified to challenge the Fourth Holy Son.

The earlier battle had ended too abruptly, too swiftly. The crowd hadn't had their fill. They wanted to see the Heavenly Intention legacy disciples force Ye Chen to reveal more of his arsenal.

Though the legacy disciples, at mid-Deity Transformation, were far stronger than Zhang Pengfei, the consensus was that neither could defeat the Fourth Holy Son alone. But together? They might stand a chance.

The crowd yearned for a hard-fought, evenly matched clash.

Yet the two legacy disciples in the sky no longer wore the calm indifference they'd shown when sizing up Ye Chen's tricks. Their faces were ashen, their eyes grave. Deep down, they were already wavering.

Zhang Pengfei's strength was negligible to them—neither his realm nor talent came close. They could defeat him, even kill him. But to crush him as effortlessly as Ye Chen had? Impossible. Ye Chen's power far surpassed either of them individually. Their high insight and strength made them even more uneasy than the crowd's speculations.

As the saying goes: A weakling sees me as a frog at the bottom of a well gazing at the moon. But a strong one sees me as a mayfly glimpsing the vast blue sky.

Ye Chen wielded the True Dragon Treasure Technique, a supreme offensive art. Now he'd revealed an unimaginable physical body, possibly harboring a hidden divine physique. Offense and defense, both perfected to the extreme. And yet, he also possessed Heavy Pupils, versatile and nearly limitless in power. Even his spiritual power was absurdly vast, capable of shattering Zhang Pengfei's Heaven and Earth Manifestation outright.

Such overwhelming spiritual power meant Ye Chen could unleash countless Treasure Techniques without ever running dry. No matter how long or grueling the battle, he'd show no signs of weakening. Any one of these advantages could forge a top-tier prodigy. Ye Chen had them all. Such an opponent was terrifying. Without absolute dominance, no one would willingly face him.

As for teaming up? They might win, but it'd be a pyrrhic victory. They couldn't cripple Ye Chen. Despite their higher realms, a hard-fought win against one opponent would earn them no glory.

Instead, they'd become a backdrop to Ye Chen's legend. A hundred harms, no benefits. Only a fool would do it.

So, the thought of suppressing Ye Chen had long vanished from their minds. As for the Heavenly Desire divine maiden, Fan Qinghe? She was undeniably captivating, enough to make them want to trade their legacy disciple titles for her.

But Ye Chen's strength made her seem… less essential. Amber skin was rare, but not impossible to find. And someone as… alluring as her? Rare, sure, but with effort, they could find a substitute in their lifetime. So, it wasn't worth it. Truly not worth it.

Under the crowd's expectant gazes, the two legacy disciples, who'd been positioned between Ye Chen and the jade boat, drifted ethereally to the side. They stopped a hundred meters away, no longer blocking Ye Chen's path to the boat.

Though they said nothing and showed no overt fear, their graceful retreat spoke volumes. In an instant, everyone understood. The lofty Heavenly Intention legacy disciples had backed down! They didn't dare compete with the Fourth Holy Son for the divine maiden.

The outcome disappointed the crowd. This generation's divine maiden was enchanting beyond measure. The prodigy lineup for her debut was unprecedentedly strong.

Yet the battle's intensity fell far short of past spectacles. A pity. But it only deepened the crowd's awe of Ye Chen. A mere late Nascent Soul cultivator had forced two mid-Deity Transformation legacy disciples to retreat, to avoid battle. He'd silenced the entire Pure Moon River.

Such dominance surpassed even the young Yao, Hua, and Ying titans at the Nascent Soul stage. Truly terrifying.

Many believed that given enough time, the Fourth Holy Son had the potential to ascend to immortality!