ISWI Chapter 172-173

Chapter 172: Could It Be a Heavenly Spirit Root?

Ye Chen, participating in the Divine Will Assembly, was unaware that An Miaoli and her niece had already assessed him and deemed him unworthy of the championship.

Even if he had known, Ye Chen wouldn't have cared. Apart from the final day's championship, a cultivator only had one match per day. After stepping down from the arena, Ye Chen was met with Caidie's eager gaze as he prepared to continue his business.

Given that it was the time of the Divine Will Assembly and many cultivators were in Divine Will City, it was an excellent opportunity to fetch good prices.

However, as Ye Chen was leaving the area of the Conclave, his system, which frequently pinged upon arriving in Divine Will City, chimed again.

Ye Chen didn't pay much attention initially. There were many female cultivators in Divine Will City; encountering a compatible one was normal. But when Ye Chen saw the multiplier, his body involuntarily halted.

"Li Feihuang: 300 times!"

My goodness... three hundred times? Could it be real?

Up to now, the highest multiplier Ye Chen had encountered was with his master and An Miaoli. Both were Earth Spirit Roots, but they only reached up to two hundred times.

What level was this Li Feihuang? What merits did she possess to have a three hundred times multiplier? Could it be a Heavenly Spirit Root? But if it was a Heavenly Spirit Root, wouldn't three hundred times be too low? Or could it be an Earth Spirit Root but she was just more beautiful, hence the three hundred times? But how beautiful would she need to be?

Ye Chen didn't understand, but that didn't stop him from looking ahead. In the distance, a female cultivator with a badge pinned on her chest was walking towards the direction of the Divine Will Assembly. Clearly, she too was a participant in the Conclave.

After one glance at her, Ye Chen's brow furrowed slightly. The female cultivator's appearance was utterly ordinary, and her physique nondescript. The phrase "plain and unremarkable" suited her perfectly, making her the kind who would be lost in a crowd.

Ye Chen immediately concluded that this woman must have altered her appearance. Otherwise, with such looks, a three hundred times multiplier would be plausible only if she possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root.

Ye Chen's eyes subtly shifted, his Heavy Pupils seeing through all deceptions. Suddenly, the vision of the female cultivator transformed completely. Her originally unremarkable figure now appeared curvaceous and striking, combining the best features of Lu Jing and his senior sister, Yao Xi. She was perfection personified. Her face, too, was unbelievably beautiful.

Most importantly, the female cultivator also sported red hair. Combined with her haughty and indifferent demeanor and her regal aura, she resembled an empress or a phoenix.

Noticing Ye Chen's gaze, the female cultivator frowned and glanced at him. She continued on her way without stopping.

Ye Chen did not rush to do anything. He pondered silently. This Li Feihuang was indeed extraordinary, but she was not prettier than his master or An Miaoli.

Considering her rare crimson hair, it was clear. She likely had an Earth Spirit Root but possessed some unique bloodline or constitution that granted her the three hundred times multiplier. This Li Feihuang, having disguised herself to participate in the Divine Will Assembly, surely had a backstory.

However, Ye Chen wasn't interested in wine or stories. He cared only about the multiplier. Ye Chen had been contemplating whom to give the direct disciple slot to if he won first place at the conclave.

Now, it seemed he had found a suitable candidate. He wondered what rewards the Divine Will Sect's direct disciple slot might yield with a three hundred times feedback. Could the system possibly make him the sect leader of the Divine Will Sect?

Ye Chen mused happily, his mood uplifted as he continued his business with Caidie.

As for why he didn't approach Li Feihuang? Ye Chen's Heavy Pupils had revealed her noble aura, indicating her extraordinary background.

Moreover, her deliberate disguise meant she did not want her true identity recognized, indicating wariness of the outside world. Approaching her suddenly, hoping to make friends, would likely only push her away. So, there was no need to hurry. Slow and steady would be best.

...

In the following days, Ye Chen participated in the competitions daily, defeating his opponents. Afterwards, he went on to sell his goods and shop. His generous spending made Caidie's eyes sparkle with increasing admiration, and she found herself increasingly unwilling to part with Ye Chen at night.

In his spare time, Ye Chen also watched several of Li Feihuang's matches. Her mastery of fire-based spells was sublime. Even a simple Fireball spell in her hands was tremendously powerful, and she resolved her battles quickly. This only confirmed Ye Chen's suspicion that Li Feihuang, besides possessing an Earth Spirit Root, must have some special trait or bloodline related to fire.

As the days passed, the final day of the Divine Will Assembly soon arrived. The top ten finalists were officially announced, and the excitement of the conclave reached its peak. Those who made it to the top ten were all prodigies—some from Golden Core families, some from major sects, and even a few talented loose cultivators who swept through their opponents on the platform, causing astonishment.

However, among these individuals, Ye Chen was the most surprising. No one expected that Ye Chen, with only a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, would make it into the top ten. He was the only one at this stage.

It was truly incredible.

Even An Yuyi, upon seeing Ye Chen, felt a secret shock. An Miaoli nodded in acknowledgment, "This Ye Chen truly is extraordinary. No wonder the Green Cloud Sect sent only this mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator to participate. If Ye Chen wins first place, it's unlikely we'll be able to exchange the slot for the Divine Will Pool. After all, being only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, he needs the pool to enhance his cultivation."

An Yuyi, observing Ye Chen on the platform, felt that the image of Ye Chen in the secret realm could not align with the figure she saw now. How could Ye Chen be so strong?

However, when her aunt praised him, An Yuyi quickly retorted, "His entry into the top ten was just luck. The others are all prodigies nurtured by their families or powerful cultivators. Their strength is roughly equivalent to our Divine Will Sect's direct disciples at the later stages of Foundation Establishment.

"The reason they didn't join the Divine Will Sect earlier is because of the limited number of direct disciple slots. Being an ordinary disciple at home would be more beneficial than being a direct disciple. Ye Chen definitely isn't their match."

An Miaoli remained silent, her serene, water-like eyes quietly observing Ye Chen as he ascended the platform.

Ye Chen's opponent was a prodigy from a family with a Golden Core powerhouse. The opponent looked at Ye Chen, gave a light smile, and nodded politely, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist!"

Ye Chen returned the gesture with a smile and a bow. As the Divine Will Sect's official gave the signal, both competitors made their moves.

Ye Chen's opponent was a sword cultivator and showed no underestimation of Ye Chen, despite his being at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Clutching a top-grade magic sword, his initial attack was a tempest of wind and thunder, with countless bolts of lightning resembling great serpents attacking from all directions, forming what seemed like a domain of thunder.

The sight was awe-inspiring. The top-grade magic sword transformed into a streak of light, hidden within the rolling thunder serpents, ready to deliver a fatal strike at any moment.

This display astounded the audience, as this sword cultivator had defeated previous opponents with this very spell, making him one of the favorites predicted to win the championship.

And there stood Ye Chen, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who had made it to the top ten, indeed a prodigy in his own right. Yet facing such an opponent, no one believed Ye Chen could win.

But the next moment, an even more intense explosion erupted. The thunder domain burst apart instantly. An unharmed Ye Chen flicked away the flying sword that had been sneaking up on his side, and in the next instant, he was already in front of his opponent. With a single palm strike, he sent his opponent flying backward.

The entire arena fell silent...

An Yuyi's brow furrowed even tighter, her eyes filled with disbelief. An Miaoli's brow glinted with a red light, her expression thoughtful. And Li Feihuang, who had changed her name and disguised her appearance, now looked at Ye Chen on the platform, her indifferent expression gaining a hint of interest...

After a long pause, the voice of the official finally echoed throughout the conclave venue: "Ye Chen wins!"

Chapter 173: Fire Phoenix Spirit Body

In the world of cultivation, there are indeed prodigies capable of defeating opponents beyond their level. But it all depends on the circumstances.

For sect direct disciples, defeating an independent cultivator beyond their level is nothing to boast about. After all, independent cultivators often lack proper techniques and spells, and with no formal inheritance, their strength is usually quite weak. So, defeating such opponents doesn't count for much.

But to defeat a prodigy beyond one's level? That is truly remarkable. What kind of monster is this?

At that moment, the way the top ten of the Divine Will Assembly looked at Ye Chen had completely changed.

On the viewing platform, An Yuyi, though still shocked, suddenly thought of something and her eyes widened. She immediately transmitted her voice to An Miaoli with a look of urgency, "Aunt... we've investigated, and Ye Chen only has a third-grade spirit root. How could he be strong to such an extent, like a freak of nature? He must have stolen my Blood Sea Lotus Seed."

At this point, An Yuyi's face was full of anger. It was because she hadn't received the Blood Sea Lotus Seed, which had left her spiritual roots not smooth and harmonious enough, that she failed to make it into the top ten in the competition. And the root cause of all this was Ye Chen.

However, An Miaoli frowned slightly. The Blood Sea Lotus Seed could at most help someone with an attribute spirit root improve it slightly. Even if Ye Chen had an attribute spirit root, it wouldn't explain such monstrous strength.

But An Miaoli also realized that the events surrounding the Boundless Demon Sect's secret realm were likely not simple. Ye Chen must have done quite a bit inside that realm.

An Miaoli shook her head at An Yuyi and transmitted her voice, "Don't rush. We'll discuss this after the competition."

Despite her anger, An Yuyi could only temporarily hold back after hearing her aunt's words. However, once the Divine Will Assembly was over, she would definitely demand an explanation from Ye Chen. She had gone through great lengths to rescue him from the Bewildering Forest. And yet, he dared to steal from her. How could he be so ungrateful?

After the brief shock, the competition on the platform continued. Those who made it into the top ten were all top-tier geniuses. These prodigies might have been unlucky; had they joined the Divine Will Sect earlier, they wouldn't have been able to secure a direct disciple spot.

While regular disciples of the Divine Will Sect also enjoyed benefits, these were of little attraction to the prodigies. It was better to stay at home, where they could cultivate with more resources and guidance from stronger elders. Thus, their strength might not be inferior to that of the direct disciples of the Divine Will Sect.

Now, most of them were fighting for a direct disciple spot, primarily for the opportunity to form a Golden Core. The battles between these prodigies were spectacular, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained. After half a day of intense matches, the finals finally arrived.

...

Looking at the names of the final two contestants, even though the audience had seen them win their previous matches, they couldn't help but marvel. One of them was Ye Chen, the only mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator among the top ten. No one had expected Ye Chen to sweep through the prodigies and make it to the top ten.

The outside world was already speculating about Ye Chen's talent. To defeat prodigies beyond his level—truly absurd. But apart from Ye Chen, the identity of the other finalist was also surprising.

It wasn't the top family genius most had predicted to win, but rather a relatively unknown cultivator, said to be a mere independent, Li Feng. Her mastery of fire-based spells was exquisite, and she was shockingly strong. This year's Divine Will Assembly had brought two dark horses to the forefront. It was nothing short of astonishing.

Yet, amid their amazement, the crowd was also more excited. Two such monstrous talents were about to face each other—who would emerge victorious?

Li Feng was the alias of Li Feihuang. She glanced at Ye Chen, her expression indifferent.

Ye Chen was indeed unexpectedly strong. But Li Feihuang had her own confidence. Not only did she possess an Earth Spirit Root, but she was also naturally endowed with the Fire Phoenix Spirit Body.

The Fire Phoenix Spirit Body was accompanied by the Southern Radiant Fire, a fire that could easily master all fire-based spells and had the ability to transform the mundane into the miraculous. Even the most ordinary Fireball spell, in her hands, could be devastating.

No matter how monstrous Ye Chen was, he could never be her opponent. Not to mention, Ye Chen was only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Whereas she had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. In terms of talent, constitution, and cultivation, she was certain to win. Thus, there was no suspense in this battle.

However, she had to admit that Ye Chen's ability to sweep through so many prodigies with his mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation had its merits. It was a shame her father had passed away. She had no choice but to flee and seek refuge with her father's old friends. Otherwise, she could have tried to recruit Ye Chen.

While lost in thought, the official called out, "Time's up, both contestants, please take the stage!"

Li Feihuang stopped her musings, stepping confidently onto the stage. Her eyes were filled with immense pride and a determination to win. The identity of a direct disciple of the Divine Will Sect was crucial to her.

Because, five years from now, the Phoenix Blood would be more than just a material for her to break through to the Golden Core. It would also have the potential to enhance her spirit body.

By using the bloodline power within the Phoenix Blood, she could awaken her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body into the Moon Phoenix Body. And at that time, she would take back everything she had lost, all with her own hands.

Ye Chen walked onto the stage with a calm demeanor. Looking at the unremarkable Li Feihuang in front of him, he felt a slight urge to activate his Heavy Pupils and see something more interesting.

However, there were Golden Core elders present. If it wasn't necessary, Ye Chen had no intention of using his Heavy Pupils.

Indeed, Ye Chen was that confident—he didn't even plan on using his Heavy Pupils. Though his opponent was a female cultivator with a three hundred times multiplier, possibly possessing some special bloodline or constitution...

Still, if Ye Chen had a multiplier, with his Heavy Pupils, the Heavenly Spirit Root, and the Myriad Star Body, he felt that even a two thousand times multiplier wouldn't be enough to handle him. Unfortunately, he couldn't use the system for himself. Otherwise, Ye Chen felt that he could be preparing to break through to the Deity Transformation stage right now.

"Please, teach me!"

Ye Chen smiled lightly and nodded in greeting.

Li Feihuang gave a slight nod. Her expression remained calm, but Ye Chen could still sense the arrogance in her demeanor. It wasn't just arrogance in terms of strength. There was also arrogance in her status. This made Ye Chen rather curious. What kind of background did she have?

...

The battle began.

Li Feihuang said nothing more, instantly raising her hand. The crowd gasped collectively. Behind Li Feihuang, nine massive, crimson fireballs instantly materialized.

It was supposed to be a simple Fireball spell, but in her hands, the fireballs were ridiculously large. The flames churned within them, exuding an aura of unimaginable terror.

The heat was so intense that it could be felt throughout the entire Divine Will Assembly venue. They were like nine blazing suns. The audience couldn't help but stare, their eyes wide with astonishment.

Previously, Li Feihuang had always condensed three fireballs at once against her opponents. That alone had left her opponents in a pitiful state. Everyone thought that three was her limit. But now, she was able to form nine at once.

Nine fireballs, each like a burning sun, were about to crash down—this was enough to annihilate everything in their path. Who could withstand such a spell?

The crowd marveled, and most believed that Ye Chen was likely not a match for Li Feihuang.

However, the fact that Ye Chen, with only mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, forced Li Feihuang to unleash such a powerful move already proved his strength.

On the viewing platform, several elders who had come to observe also nodded, showing their appreciation for Li Feihuang's display.

An Miaoli also smiled and spoke, "Li Feng's ability to elevate a simple Fireball spell to this level proves that her talent, comprehension, and the depth of her spiritual power are all top-tier. Her spirit root should be related to fire, but even a pure fire spirit root wouldn't be able to achieve this level. If Li Feng were to become a direct disciple, she would be the first among direct disciples!"

Upon hearing this, An Yuyi's expression grew urgent. Although Li Feng was at the peak of Foundation Establishment and didn't need the Divine Will Pool's slot, if Li Feng won, there was a chance that she could trade the slot with her.

However, with Li Feng being so powerful and proficient in fire-based spells, she was likely aiming for the Phoenix Blood as well. How could An Yuyi compete with her?

At this moment, An Yuyi found herself hoping even more for Ye Chen's victory. After all, Ye Chen had stolen her Blood Sea Lotus Seed, and he must give her an explanation. If Ye Chen won, she could demand compensation from him by using the Divine Will Pool's slot.

As for Li Feng, if she couldn't become a direct disciple, no matter how strong she was, she wouldn't be able to compete with An Yuyi. But deep down, An Yuyi knew that the chances of Ye Chen defeating Li Feng were exceedingly slim...