ISWI Chapter 269-271

Chapter 269: Use Mine Instead!

"Su Yuxuan probably won't fight tomorrow, so it'll be the final match," Ye Chen mused, raising an eyebrow. "Northern Emperor's inheritance? Who's that?"

He pondered briefly but drew a blank. Time was a merciless eraser. In his past life, even the greatest figures faded from memory decades after death, their legacies gradually erased.

In the cultivation world, with its endless stream of prodigies, even once-dazzling True Immortals could be forgotten, their dao titles lost to history. A Northern Emperor who never reached the Great Ascension Realm? Hardly worth noting.

Ye Chen shrugged it off. With his Immortal Scripture, True Dragon Treasure Technique, Supreme Heart, Heavy Pupil, and countless other assets, any one of them could crush this so-called Northern Emperor's legacy. No need to dwell on it.

The system's cooldown had ended today, allowing him to gift again, but he planned to wait. Tomorrow, after defeating Champion King, he'd first gift the Nether King's Gall to Su Yuxuan to boost her aptitude. A higher aptitude would increase her multiplier, and a week later, gifting the imperial aura infusion slot would maximize his returns.

As he schemed, his transmission talisman buzzed. Glancing at it, Ye Chen's brow furrowed. In a flash, he vanished, reappearing outside the Wang residence.

Su Yuxuan, barely conscious, was propped up by a soul force, unable to stand. Ye Chen scooped her frail, curvaceous form into his arms, noting her deathly pale lips and her aura, so faint it was almost gone. Frowning deeply, he carried her swiftly back to his courtyard, shutting the door before speaking. "What happened?"

Su Yuxuan managed a bitter smile. "Champion King wanted me as his concubine, but I'm yours, Senior Brother—how could I agree? He tried to take me by force. I couldn't match him, so I detonated my Golden Core and fled."

Ye Chen's frown deepened, his gaze dropping to her dantian—empty, her vital essence nearly drained. A glint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Su Yuxuan's trembling hand grasped his, her voice weak. "Even as a demonic cultivator, I know loyalty. I'm yours, Senior Brother, and always will be. Detonating my core nearly exhausted my lifeforce—I've got half a year at most—but I don't regret it. To see you one last time, to be by your side, I'm content. Don't grieve or seek revenge. Just bury me in the Boundless Demon Sect's ruins, where the other shore flowers bloom—I love them. Visit me sometimes, remember a girl who loved you and died for you, and I'll rest in peace."

Her heartfelt speech left Ye Chen silent. Died for me? The words felt oddly familiar, like a rehearsed script.

Ye Chen brushed aside the theatrics, his voice firm. "Is there a way to save you?"

Su Yuxuan shook her head with a bitter smile, but before she could respond, a translucent figure materialized beside her. Manjusaka's voice was cold. "There is. The Boundless Demon Sect has a secret technique to seize another's Golden Core and refine it for one's own use. If you extract Li Feihuang's core and refine it, Yuxuan could recover seventy percent of her strength. Her immortal path might even continue."

Ye Chen's eyes widened at Manjusaka's appearance.

You actually have a core-plundering technique? Truly an old demonic cultivator.

He pressed, "Senior, would any core work?"

Manjusaka sneered. "A Golden Core is the root of cultivation. You think any random one will do? Yuxuan's core detonation damaged her foundation. A mismatched core, even a ninth-grade one, would degrade to third or fourth grade after refining—a tainted core at best. She'd survive, but her immortal path would be severed. Better dead than that.

"Li Feihuang, with her phoenix blood and Moon Phoenix Body, has a peak ninth-grade core. As a female cultivator, her core could yield a sixth-grade one for Yuxuan. The phoenix blood could restore her foundation, even leaving room for future growth."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. Handing over Li Feihuang's core was out of the question. She might be overconfident, but she wasn't evil—certainly not deserving of that fate. Besides, Ye Chen had a better option, a core of higher quality than Li Feihuang's.

Why dig out someone else's when I can use my own?

Seeing his silence, Manjusaka scoffed. "I knew men were unreliable. Yuxuan's dying, and you won't even fetch a core for her. You call that love?"

Ye Chen's mouth twitched. That's at least eight thousand years of venom packed into one jab.

Su Yuxuan, eyes red, shook her head. "Master, stop. Li Feihuang's a Great Chu princess, noble and stunning—I pale in comparison. Don't pressure Senior Brother. I'm happy just to be by his side before I go. Senior Brother, can you take me back to the Misty Sect to watch the sunset from the main peak? I miss those days… they're my lost…"

Despite her words, Su Yuxuan wasn't truly worried. If cores could be plundered, survival was assured—it was just a matter of quality. Targeting Li Feihuang's core was half a playful jab at Ye Chen, not jealousy over him gifting her the phoenix blood or crossing realms to help her claim the throne. Definitely not.

…

Ye Chen's mouth twitched. Is Su Yuxuan using my old playbook against me? And that nonsense about missing the Misty Sect—you smashed their ancestral hall before leaving. What are you nostalgic for?

He chuckled, leaning down to say something to her, but Su Yuxuan's face grew even paler, and she fainted in his arms.

Manjusaka's voice dripped with scorn. "For years, I've told Yuxuan you're no good, but she wouldn't listen. She thought you were devoted, the one who loved her most. She didn't get it—your special constitution just means you don't need those things you gave her."

"Hand Yuxuan over," she continued. "I'll take her away, find the best Golden Core, and rebuild her immortal path."

Ye Chen shook his head, gazing tenderly at Su Yuxuan before turning to Manjusaka. "Senior, Li Feihuang's core isn't suitable. But how could I let my junior sister die or lose her path? Use my Golden Core instead."

At his words, Su Yuxuan's eyes snapped open, only to flutter shut again, feigning unconsciousness. Manjusaka froze, stunned. Is he serious?

She'd always assumed Ye Chen's gifts—his eyes, his heart—came from a regenerative constitution, common enough in the cultivation world's myriad physiques. But a Golden Core? Once gone, it was gone. Even she'd never heard of anyone regrowing one. Plundering another's core crippled one's strength, all but ending their immortal path. Was he for real?

Skeptical, she pressed, "Li Feihuang's a woman—her core aligns better with Yuxuan, maximizing compatibility and minimizing damage."

Ye Chen grinned. "Mine's better. It'll more than make up for the gender difference."

Manjusaka blinked, unconvinced. Both were ninth-grade cores, and Li Feihuang's was forged with phoenix blood. How could his be superior?

But then her soul form trembled violently. Before her, Ye Chen summoned his Golden Core, and a blinding five-colored divine light erupted, dazzling enough to blind anyone who looked.

…

Chapter 270: I Only Wish to Watch You Ascend

Su Yuxuan's heart fluttered with joy when she heard Ye Chen offer his Golden Core. Senior Brother truly loves me. Her efforts pampering him the past few days weren't in vain. Still, she had no intention of taking his core. Both were ninth-grade—why ruin his immortal path when they could just kill Wang Lun and sink his body in a pool? Far simpler.

But when she sensed Ye Chen summon his core and Manjusaka fell silent, curiosity stirred. Her master, a prodigy from the Northern Emperor's era, had seen it all. For Ye Chen's ninth-grade core to stun her speechless? Does Senior Brother have an extra one or something?

Unable to resist, Su Yuxuan squinted through crescent-shaped eyes. The next moment, she felt blinded. What's floating in the room? Golden Cores were supposed to be golden—why was his bursting with multiple colors? And why was it so massive, just like him? What even is this?

Her eyes widened in disbelief. Manjusaka's soul form quaked, as if roiled by a tsunami. After a long pause, she stared at Ye Chen, incredulous. "You've forged a Law Core?"

"Law Core?" Ye Chen echoed, intrigued by the unfamiliar term.

Manjusaka explained solemnly, "A Law Core, also called a Core of Laws or Immortal Core, is rare. To become a True Immortal in the Great Ascension Realm, one must comprehend the Laws of Heaven and Earth. But such laws are elusive—many spend their lives grasping mere fragments, dying in regret.

"However, a select few in Foundation Establishment, whose power surpasses the realm's limits, can forge a Law Core. Each ray of its divine light signifies affinity with a specific law, making it easier to seize and refine. The more laws mastered, the greater the chance of ascending to immortality."

She continued, awe creeping into her voice. "In ancient times, the Chaotic Ancient True Immortal forged a seven-colored Law Core, mastering seven laws in the Great Ascension Realm. Upon ascending, he slaughtered a horde of True Immortals, rivers of blood in his wake. And you… you've forged a five-colored Law Core!"

Her gaze on Ye Chen shifted, tinged with reverence. Even as the top genius of the Boundless Demon Sect in her era, with few rivals, she'd only formed a single-colored white core. Ye Chen's five-colored core was beyond comprehension.

For the first time since her revival, Manjusaka felt genuine shock. Ye Chen's eyes lit up as he absorbed her explanation. Much of the cultivation world's knowledge was guarded, passed only through oral tradition, never written. He'd always wondered why his multi-colored Golden Core mattered and how it tied to immortality. Now it clicked—it's about mastering the Laws of Heaven and Earth.

No wonder the Chaotic Ancient True Immortal, with a seven-colored Law Core, lamented its limits in the True Immortal Chronicles. Seven colors let him slaughter True Immortals upon ascending. A nine-colored core? That'd be unstoppable.

Ye Chen's mind raced with one thought: Gift it. I have to gift it.

Su Yuxuan, no longer feigning unconsciousness, gaped. Ninth-grade cores aren't the peak? She'd never heard of Law Cores or Immortal Cores. Is Senior Brother this monstrous? If she refined his core, could she restore a ninth-grade core—or better? If even one or two rays of divine light remained, could she aim for immortality? For cultivators, wasn't immortality the ultimate dream?

Her empty dantian pulsed with raw desire. She craved it. But eyes could regrow, hearts could regenerate—golden cores didn't. If Ye Chen gave his, what would happen to him? His cultivation would collapse, his lifespan slashed to a fraction. This core, a peerless treasure, was something he offered so calmly, without hesitation.

Her rare conscience stirred. After a moment's hesitation, Su Yuxuan decided to refuse—not as a ploy or tactic, but out of self-awareness. She wasn't a supreme prodigy. Refining Ye Chen's core might yield a mediocre result, wasting its potential if no divine light remained.

Instead, she could refine Wang Lun's ninth-grade core. It'd degrade to mid-grade at best, but with a senior brother destined for immortality—and generous to boot—she'd reap far greater benefits. If Ye Chen ascended in this era, she'd rise with him, perhaps even touching immortality herself. One person's ascension lifts all around them wasn't just a saying.

Weighing the pros and cons, Su Yuxuan spoke earnestly, "Senior Brother, just kill Wang Lun for me. Keep your five-colored core. My immortal path may be rough, but I have no regrets. As long as I can watch you ascend in this mortal world, I'm content—"

Thud.

Before she finished, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted—for real this time.

…

Ye Chen sighed, addressing Manjusaka solemnly. "Yuxuan's fainted again—her condition's critical. Senior, I leave her to you."

With a gesture, he guided his five-colored Golden Core to hover before Manjusaka, then gently laid Su Yuxuan's frail form on the bed.

Manjusaka's gaze on Ye Chen was complex. She'd noticed he'd subtly knocked Su Yuxuan out, likely to prevent her from refusing. She didn't call it out, understanding his intent.

"Are you certain?" she asked gravely. "A five-colored Law Core isn't just a ticket to immortality—it's beyond that. Giving it to Yuxuan, she might not even retain a single color. Is such a sacrifice worth it?"

Ye Chen smiled, glancing at Su Yuxuan. Worth it? Of course. Five colors weren't enough—he aimed for more.

He didn't answer aloud, but his tender, smiling gaze on Su Yuxuan spoke volumes. Manjusaka's heart, long still as an ancient well, churned with waves of awe. She was stunned by Ye Chen's talent and floored by his selflessness. With a five-colored core, he was destined to be this era's brightest prodigy, a near-certain True Immortal. Yet, for the woman he loved, he surrendered it without a second thought.

Guilt gnawed at her. She'd spent years badmouthing Ye Chen to Su Yuxuan, questioning his sincerity. Now, she saw the truth—some men were truly good.

Softly, she murmured, "I'm sorry."

Ye Chen blinked, puzzled, but didn't press. He just watched her intently.

Manjusaka's soul force extended, enveloping the five-colored core. Sensing no resistance from Ye Chen, her emotions grew heavier as she activated the secret technique. In an instant, the bond between Ye Chen and his core severed. The core's radiance dimmed, and Ye Chen paled, his aura collapsing to a frail wisp.

Yet he stood tall, forcing a smile at Manjusaka. "This core is yours now, Senior. Please take good care of Yuxuan. When she wakes, tell her not to seek me out. I don't want anyone seeing me weak. Let her forget me."

With that, he turned, not sparing the core another glance, and left decisively. The door shut behind him.

Manjusaka heard him stagger into the courtyard, coughing up blood in heavy gasps. To spare her feelings, he suppressed the sound, hobbling away quickly.

She bowed her head, staring at the five-colored core floating in her soul force. A torrent of emotions—admiration, guilt, awe, and regret—overwhelmed her, escaping as a long, wistful sigh.

…

Chapter 271: Can Heavenly Laws Be Gifted?

Ye Chen slipped into an empty courtyard in the Wang residence, casually activating its wards and sitting cross-legged. His blood-spitting wasn't faked. His pallor, his withered aura—none of it was an act. For a Golden Core cultivator, the core was their foundation. Severing it forcibly was catastrophic.

Yet, despite the toll, Ye Chen's smile never faded. In his mind, the system's voice echoed relentlessly.

"Congratulations, Host! Gift successful!"

"Gifted: Five-Colored Law Core!"

"Five-hundredfold feedback in progress…"

"Detected: The gifted item is of extreme importance to the recipient, triggering intense emotional resonance…"

"Critical reward activated!"

"Reward: Chaos Core!"

"Chaos Core: Born of primordial chaos, it allows effortless comprehension, refinement, and fusion of all heavenly laws without limit."

"Detected: Host's dantian is vacant. Chaos Core has been directly placed within."

Critical hit!

Ye Chen could clearly see it—a misty, gray orb shrouded in endless fog now rested in his once-empty dantian. His depleted aura, ravaged by the loss of his five-colored core, surged back, climbing rapidly. His leaking vital essence reversed, restoring at breakneck speed.

As he bonded with the Chaos Core, its terrifying potential dawned on him. Ordinary Great Ascension cultivators, even prodigies, might grasp two or three heavenly laws, but could only house one. A five-colored core aligned with five laws, a nine-colored one with nine—the more laws fused before ascension, the stronger the resulting True Immortal.

His Chaos Core? It aligned with all laws and could contain them without limit. Given time, he could comprehend and fuse every heavenly law into himself. The Chaotic Ancient True Immortal, with seven laws, dominated True Immortals. What would Ye Chen, with boundless laws, achieve upon ascending?

A wild thought struck him: Can I gift heavenly laws? If he could master a law and gift it, he could propel every woman around him to immortality, reaping endless feedback. That's the ticket to becoming the strongest True Immortal in history, bar none.

He was only Golden Core now, far from the Great Ascension Realm, so the idea was just a fleeting fantasy. Shaking it off, he focused on cultivating, deepening his bond with the Chaos Core. His aura, already restored to its pre-gift peak, kept soaring.

As dawn broke, the first rays painting the sky, the transformation finally settled.

…

The Chaos Core's benefits extended far beyond paving the way to immortality. Even now, it amplified Ye Chen's strength exponentially. He could feel his already monstrous power surging at least tenfold. The core's terror was beyond comprehension—he couldn't even gauge his own limits anymore.

Glancing toward his courtyard, Ye Chen mentally tipped his hat to the little demoness and the old granny. Su Yuxuan, true to her demonic nature, always conjured bizarre gifting opportunities. And Manjusaka, despite her man-hating streak and eight-thousand-year-old verbal punches, delivered a five-hundredfold base reward plus a critical hit. Absolute clutch.

He toyed with the idea of helping Manjusaka restore her physical body. As a soul, she already triggered a five-hundredfold return—imagine the multiplier with a flesh-and-blood form. It could skyrocket. He'd have to chat with her later, see if she'd stick with him.

Sure, having her around meant she'd witness everything he did, but during his reunion with Su Yuxuan, her presence hadn't fazed him. If anything, it… spiced things up.

His spiritual sense pinged—the Wang Clan patriarch was heading toward his courtyard, likely to summon him for the arena. To avoid disturbing Su Yuxuan's core refinement, Ye Chen glided out, intercepting them.

The patriarch's eyes reddened upon seeing Ye Chen emerge from Wang Ming's courtyard. Outrageous! Killing Wang Ming was bad enough, but sneaking into his courtyard at night? Blatant provocation.

If not for needing Ye Chen to expose Champion King's trump cards—and knowing he couldn't beat him—the patriarch would've snapped. Gritting his teeth, he led the group to the palace.

…

Today, Champion King would take the stage. As a powerhouse who'd clashed with Nascent Soul cultivators, every cultivator in the capital was eager to witness his prowess, hoping to glean insights.

Ye Chen, too, was a hot topic. The Flying Tiger General, a top Great Chu expert, had reached late Golden Core, yet Ye Chen, a mid-Golden Core, flattened him with a single slap. His strength was staggering.

Still, today's match sparked little anticipation. Most wanted to see Champion King in action and gauge how long a prodigy like Ye Chen could last against him. The real spectacle was tomorrow—Li Feihuang's Moon Phoenix Body versus Champion King. That was the clash everyone craved.

…

Amid the buzzing discussions, a Great Chu clan elder soared into the sky. His voice, like cascading thunder, reverberated across the capital. The sky arena rose once more, its divine runes flaring as it stabilized.

"Both sides, enter!" the elder commanded.

Atop the palace walls, the Wang Clan patriarch bowed deeply to Ye Chen. "Fellow Daoist Ye, for Her Highness's sake, please spare no effort to wound Champion King and expose his trump cards."

Wang Lun and the others echoed the gesture, their eyes gleaming with expectation. Ye Chen's lips twitched.

You didn't say it outright, but you might as well have told me to die—preferably by blowing up my Golden Core. Consumable, huh?

Li Feihuang rose, her phoenix robe shimmering, her crimson hair styled regally, exuding an aura of noble grace. She bowed sincerely to Ye Chen. "Fellow Daoist Ye, no need for a deathmatch. Just do your best."

That's more like it. Ye Chen chuckled, saying nothing, and glided toward the sky arena. Today's battle would indeed be a fight to the death—but not his. Champion King, who dared covet his woman and forced Su Yuxuan to detonate her core, had to die. No man could tolerate such an affront.

Yet, Champion King hadn't arrived. The crowd murmured—by rule, absence meant forfeit, but the elder remained silent, waiting patiently.

After a hundred breaths, a terrifying aura erupted from the direction of Champion King's mansion. A war chariot, wreathed in divine flames and radiating a slaughterous intent so fierce it brought tears to onlookers' eyes, blazed across the sky.

Atop the chariot stood a towering figure, indomitable as if he could battle the heavens themselves. Champion King had arrived.

The capital fell silent, gripped by awe.

…