ISWI Chapter 266-268

Chapter 266: Fight Senior Brother?

"Fellow Daoist Ye's strength is formidable, so he'll take the second slot," the Wang Clan patriarch outlined the strategy. "Today, Wang Lun will face Su Yuxuan. If Wang Lun has energy left, he'll take on the Flying Tiger General tomorrow. Even if he's outmatched, he can wear him down. Then, Fellow Daoist Ye can step in to easily crush the Flying Tiger General before facing Champion King. The Champion's strength is profound and elusive. The more trump cards you force him to reveal, Fellow Daoist Ye, the greater Her Highness's chances of victory."

Wang Lun stood to the side, his heart icy. Ye Chen's overwhelming power stirred suspicion. Could Ye Chen have been the one who ambushed him that night? The timing aligned—his first encounter with Ye Chen had been that very day.

He hadn't considered it before, dismissing Ye Chen as insignificant, but now the pieces seemed to fit. With the ceremony looming, they needed Ye Chen's strength, so Wang Lun held his tongue. But afterward, this grudge wouldn't be forgotten.

He'd already schemed with his clan. Against Su Yuxuan, he'd feign a hard-fought battle, claiming exhaustion or injury to skip the next fight, forcing Ye Chen to face the Flying Tiger General.

The General, now late Golden Core, would be a tough opponent—perfect for Ye Chen to handle. And exhausting Champion King? That was even riskier, so naturally, it fell to Ye Chen. You're so loyal, Ye Chen? Then die for the princess.

Ye Chen, unfazed, saw through their petty plotting but didn't care. He'd half a mind to take the first slot, sweep all three days, and settle the contest single-handedly. But since Wang Lun was eager to fight Su Yuxuan, thinking her an easy target, Ye Chen let him have it. He was curious, too—how strong was Su Yuxuan now?

…

Before the Great Chu Empire's palace stood a vast plaza, teeming with spectators from major factions and countless curious cultivators. High atop the palace's towering walls, a commanding figure sat on a throne, his wild hair dancing in the wind, exuding imperial dominance. His cold gaze swept the crowd, inspiring awe. This was Champion King.

Soon, a woman in golden palace robes appeared, a radiant phoenix soaring behind her, casting divine light. Her noble, breathtaking beauty drew gasps. Princess Li Feihuang, bearer of the Moon Phoenix Body, had arrived, her presence as extraordinary as expected.

Royal clan elders ascended into the sky, their thunderous voices echoing. "Today, the Great Chu Empire selects its new emperor. The victor shall ascend the throne!"

With a shout, "Chu Emperor Arena, rise!" a massive battlefield ascended into the heavens. Spanning hundreds of thousands of meters, it shimmered with divine runes and crackling lightning, its ancient aura overwhelming. First-time visitors gaped at the sky-bound arena.

Once stabilized, an elder boomed, "Enter the arena!"

Wang Lun, smiling confidently, flew before the wall and bowed to Li Feihuang. "Your Highness, I shall secure the first victory for you."

Li Feihuang nodded calmly. Spectators viewed Wang Lun favorably—he was Great Chu's top young prodigy, surpassing most late Golden Core cultivators. His opponent, Su Yuxuan, floated up barefoot from the crowd, looking delicate and unknown. Rumors suggested she was a last-minute replacement for the injured Flying Dragon General. With Champion King's dominance, her strength seemed irrelevant. Most predicted an easy win for Wang Lun.

As both entered, the arena sealed, and the battle began.

Su Yuxuan, appearing frail, raised a hand. Dozens of blood pools materialized behind her, unleashing torrents of crimson divine light, relentless and ferocious. The sky arena drowned in a blood-red haze, obscuring vision.

Wang Lun squinted, countering with countless peach blossoms that formed a flowing stream, deftly blocking the blood light. Their clash reverberated with thunderous booms, captivating the audience. Contrary to expectations, Su Yuxuan held her own against Wang Lun, proving herself a top-tier prodigy. Such a rare duel thrilled the crowd.

The Wang Clan patriarch smirked. Wang Lun was playing it smart, keeping his edge hidden to stage a narrow victory. This would justify skipping tomorrow's fight against the late Golden Core Flying Tiger General, leaving Ye Chen to handle him.

As Wang Lun was knocked back several times, the patriarch nodded approvingly. He'd worried Wang Lun's pride might prevent him from appearing weak, but the young man was convincingly selling it—complete with spitting blood. Perfect acting.

But after a hundred more breaths, the patriarch's smugness turned to confusion. Wang Lun's arm was shattered—repairable, sure, but was the act going too far? Then his heart sank. Wang Lun was engulfed in a blood sea, struggling futilely as his aura weakened. This isn't acting. He's losing.

A desperate cry rang out from the arena: "I surrender!"

The crowd erupted in shock. Wang Lun had lost?

…

Su Yuxuan's expression turned bored as she waved her hand, dispersing the blood sea. Wang Lun emerged, his armor shattered, magic tools marred, and body a mangled, blood-soaked mess, corroded beyond recognition by the blood sea. The crowd gasped at his pitiful state.

Moments later, under countless eyes, Su Yuxuan spat a mouthful of blood, her face paling. With a weakened aura, she flew from the sky arena, found a spot, and sat cross-legged to heal.

A Great Chu elder stepped forward, sealing the arena. "Today's battle is concluded. Champion King's side wins. The contest continues tomorrow!"

The plaza erupted in fervent discussion, cultivators marveling at the intense duel.

…

In Su Yuxuan's mind, Manjusaka's puzzled voice sounded. "Why pretend to be injured? With your strength, you could've ended him in a hundred breaths."

Su Yuxuan, still pale, responded inwardly, "Winning once is enough. I'm not the one aiming for the throne—why bother exerting myself? Besides, tomorrow's against Senior Brother. Me, fight him? No way. Whether he can beat Champion King or not, I know I can't beat him. Let someone else deal with it. I won today, so if Champion King takes the throne, I get rewards. If he loses, I'll just beg Senior Brother. For now, I'll sit back and wait."

…

Chapter 267: Northern Emperor's Inheritance!

At Champion King's mansion, a steady stream of officials and powerhouses paid their respects, bearing lavish gifts, all convinced he would be the next Great Chu emperor. His subordinates regarded Su Yuxuan with newfound awe. She'd crushed Wang Lun, and had he not surrendered, he might've been refined to death. Her strength was undeniable.

On his throne, Champion King's impassive gaze lingered on Su Yuxuan, a flicker of approval in his eyes. With a wave, a golden pill floated to her. "This is a Dragon-Tiger Pill, crafted from the cores and blood of a late Golden Core tiger and Jiao—a supreme healing medicine."

Su Yuxuan accepted it without hesitation. "Thank you, Lord! But I'm too drained to fight for you tomorrow."

Champion King nodded calmly. "No matter. Flying Tiger, you're up. Kill that Ye Chen—don't care if he surrenders. The day after, I'll take the stage myself and usher in Great Chu's new emperor."

The Flying Tiger General, late Golden Core with a surging aura, rose with murderous intent. He obeyed without question. "Yes, Lord!"

Su Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, glancing at the General with pity. She wasn't sure if her Senior Brother could outmatch Champion King, but this Flying Tiger? He's already dead.

…

At the Wang residence, the mood was grim. No one had anticipated Wang Lun's defeat. Su Yuxuan, an unknown, had proven terrifyingly strong. Even Li Feihuang's face darkened.

She turned to Ye Chen. "Fellow Daoist, are you confident?"

Ye Chen grinned. "Your Highness, just prepare for your coronation."

Li Feihuang chuckled, assuming he was joking. But Ye Chen was dead serious. The cultivation world's major powers, shameless in their greed, dragged out a one-day arena into a prolonged spectacle to milk visitors' spirit stones.

Ye Chen had no patience for it. He aimed to wrap it up in three days—tomorrow, he'd fight Su Yuxuan, then the Flying Tiger General, and finally crush Champion King in one fell swoop.

But recalling Su Yuxuan's feigned injury today, he suspected her cunning would keep her from facing him. If so, he might finish in just two days.

…

On the second day, under the gaze of countless cultivators, the sky arena rose again. Ye Chen faced the silver-armored Flying Tiger General and sighed—as expected. His eyes flicked to Su Yuxuan in the crowd, dangling her feet and watching the show. Catching his gaze, she flashed a sly smile, tilted her head, and blew him a kiss.

As the Great Chu elder's authoritative voice rang out, the Flying Tiger General, gripping a long spear, eyed Ye Chen, pondering how to crush him decisively—perhaps letting him cry surrender before striking, or denying him even that chance. Ye Chen, seeing the General frozen in place, frowned. Just standing there waiting to die?

With a casual wave, Ye Chen slapped out. Purple-gold energy surged, blanketing the capital's skies, dimming the heavens. A massive purple-gold palm descended with a boom.

The Flying Tiger General's face twisted in shock. Locked by the Heaven-Destroying Hand, his aura was suppressed, leaving him no time to react. The palm slammed him into the arena floor, shaking the platform and sending tremors through the capital below.

As the purple-gold hand dissipated, the General lay broken—silver armor shattered, flesh torn, barely clinging to life, unable to rise. The crowd erupted in stunned uproar.

Li Feihuang's eyes flashed with surprise. The Wang Clan buzzed with elation. Even Champion King's ever-stoic gaze narrowed slightly.

Ye Chen glanced at the General, then calmly turned to the elder. He'd held back—since the General harbored no killing intent, Ye Chen saw no need to kill. Securing the reward was enough.

"Princess's side wins!" the elder declared, his thunderous voice echoing across the capital, proclaiming Ye Chen's victory.

…

On her way back to Champion King's mansion, Su Yuxuan skipped along, mood buoyant. She spoke to Manjusaka in her mind, "See, Master? I told you Senior Brother's incredible! Good thing I didn't fight him. I'll stay at the mansion one more day. If Senior Brother wins tomorrow, we'll go straight to him. He's no saint, but he's generous."

Manjusaka wanted to retort but fell silent, recalling that palm. Even at her peak in mid-Golden Core, she couldn't have unleashed such a spell. Ye Chen's spiritual power was terrifyingly potent.

Still, she huffed, "Ye Chen's decent, but Champion King's stronger. I just remembered—that chariot is the Northern Emperor's, the ultimate killing machine of my era. I saw it myself. The Northern Emperor was nearly invincible in the Unity Realm, carving his own path of slaughter and even slaying a Great Ascension. He fell attempting to break through to that realm. If Champion King inherited his legacy, Ye Chen's no match."

Su Yuxu frowned. The cultivation world's history was vast, and figures like the Northern Emperor, who didn't reach the pinnacle, faded quickly. She'd never heard of him, but Manjusaka's words painted a fearsome picture. Better warn Senior Brother.

Using the transmission talisman she'd exchanged with Ye Chen, she relayed the warning about the chariot's possible Northern Emperor heritage, urging caution. Then she returned to the palace, settling into her courtyard to await tomorrow.

That evening, a servant knocked. "Lady Su, Champion King summons you."

Su Yuxuan frowned, suspecting he wanted her to probe Ye Chen in the arena tomorrow. Fine. Senior Brother won't go too hard. Unfazed, she sauntered to the main hall.

Champion King sat alone on his throne, hair disheveled, wine cup in hand, eyes gleaming.

"Greetings, Your Highness," Su Yuxuan said. "Tomorrow, I'll risk my life to expose Ye Chen's secrets."

He fixed her with a calm stare, his voice like rolling thunder. "No need. I'll handle it. Tonight, you'll serve me."

Su Yuxuan's eyes narrowed, her voice icy. "I have a dao companion."

Champion King's lips curled. "Even better."

Her face chilled further. "You insist on forcing this?"

Toying with his cup, he eyed her feet. "What I want, I always get."

Before he finished, Su Yuxuan transformed into a blood-red light, streaking toward the hall's exit. Champion King, unsurprised, smirked. He flicked his wine, and it morphed into a massive hand, radiating a slaughterous aura, enveloping the bloodlight.

…

Chapter 268: Self-Destruction

"Why flee?"

Su Yuxuan's delicate face was icy as she dodged the massive hand with dreamlike grace, slipping through at the last moment. She shot toward the edge of Champion King's mansion, confusion swirling in her heart.

Why run now? She'd long noticed his interest in her, but so what? Plenty lusted after her. A few deflections, grab the goods in a couple of days, and bolt—easy. Even if she skipped the imperial aura infusion, she'd at least secure the Nether King's Gall first. Why escape so abruptly?

Manjusaka's stern voice echoed in her mind. "He's inherited the Northern Emperor's legacy! The Northern Emperor loved crafting jade beauties—using secret techniques and arrays to refine women's flesh into jade statues, immobile except for their eyes, with their spiritual sense eternally trapped. I saw it myself. I spotted those array patterns in the hall. Stop scheming and flee the capital now!"

Su Yuxuan's face paled. Flesh turned to jade, yet conscious forever? Cultivators are sick. By comparison, Senior Brother's foot fetish seemed tame. Without hesitation, she accelerated, racing for the mansion's perimeter.

The mansion's array flared to life, but Su Yuxuan didn't flinch. Her eyes gleamed with divine runes, and a beam of light blasted a gap in the array. She was a heartbeat from escaping when a surprised voice came from the hall: "Interesting…"

Her expression shifted. Outside the array, a flame-wreathed ancient war chariot roared from the void, slamming into her. Unable to dodge, she was hurled back into the mansion, her face now deathly white.

Gritting her teeth, her heart glowed with divine light, rapidly healing her injuries. Champion King emerged, hovering atop the chariot, gazing down imperiously. "I chose you, yet you not only refuse to offer yourself but dally with another man. Tonight, I'll refine you. Tomorrow, you'll join me on the battlefield atop my chariot."

With that, he threw a punch, its unmatched might shaking the mansion as if he ruled the heavens.

Su Yuxuan's eyes shot a beam of destructive light, barely countering it. Champion King smirked, unfazed, unleashing a barrage of punches, his spiritual power vast as a starry river, unstoppable. Despite her arsenal of techniques and the Exquisite Heart's constant regeneration, it wasn't fully hers, limiting its power. Her face paled further, her strength waning.

"Run!" Manjusaka urged desperately. As a mere soul, weakened by her premature awakening due to Ye Chen, she could offer little help. "You won't escape if you don't go now!"

Su Yuxuan's face was grim as she unleashed a blood sea, aiming to engulf Champion King. She spun, her eyes flashing to blast another gap in the mansion's array, darting toward escape. But the blood sea that had trapped Wang Lun couldn't touch Champion King—his divine flames roared, dissolving it instantly.

He drove his war chariot forward, its momentum poised to crush her.

"Master, what do I do?" Su Yuxuan's voice trembled. Champion King's power was beyond comprehension.

Manjusaka, frantic after years of bonding with Su Yuxuan as her disciple, urged, "Self-detonate your Golden Core…"

Su Yuxuan's eyes widened. A Golden Core was a cultivator's lifeblood—only in absolute desperation would anyone consider such a sacrifice. She balked, but the thought of Champion King's fate for her—trapped as a jade statue, conscious yet immobile—was unbearable. He was too strong; she had no other way out.

Decisive by nature, Su Yuxuan raised her hand. A radiant, near-perfect golden core shot forth. Champion King, ever impassive, narrowed his eyes at its brilliance. The core swelled rapidly, then exploded with a cataclysmic boom, its force shaking the void.

The mansion's array shattered under the impact, half its structures razed to rubble. A ninth-grade Golden Core's detonation was devastating—even Champion King had to retreat. His chariot halted, divine flames flaring to shield him from the chaotic shockwaves.

After dozens of breaths, the explosion's chaos subsided. Unscathed, Champion King scanned the ruins coldly. Su Yuxuan was gone. His mansion lay in tatters, half his subordinates dead or injured.

Several rushed forward. "Lord, she detonated her core—her strength's a fraction of what it was. She can't have gone far. We'll hunt her down."

Champion King shook his head calmly. "Without her core, she's unworthy of being a jade beauty. Find her and kill her."

With that, he steered his chariot toward the mansion's depths. His subordinates gazed at his retreating figure with godlike reverence. Even such a terrifying attack hadn't scratched him—truly a prodigy straight out of ancient legends.

…

Su Yuxuan's face was deathly pale, teetering on the edge of collapse. Her body was carried by a soul force, fleeing relentlessly. The detonation of her Golden Core—her cultivator's foundation—had inflicted unimaginable damage. It didn't just sever her path to immortality; it eroded her lifespan's very essence. Already short on longevity, she was now frail to the extreme.

"Find a place to heal and stabilize your injuries. Then we'll seek a new Golden Core," Manjusaka said, her voice heavy with a sigh as she guided Su Yuxuan's escape. "The Boundless Demon Sect's Elder devised the Core Plundering Technique, which can refine another's Golden Core into your own. But it's flawed—even a ninth-grade core degrades to third or fourth grade after refining. And since it's not your own, it merely sustains Golden Core cultivation. Advancing further? Near impossible."

Su Yuxuan, despite her ashen complexion and feeble voice, managed a weak laugh. "Surviving's enough. Better than being a jade statue. Let's head to the Wang residence to find Senior Brother. Right now, the whole capital's only safe by his side. As for a core, he'll definitely help. Wang Lun has a ninth-grade core—I'll ask Senior Brother to take him down. Pity Champion King's too strong; Senior Brother might not beat him. Otherwise, I'd want his core. Li Feihuang's would do too, but Senior Brother probably wouldn't hurt her."

Manjusaka was stunned. Even after losing her core, Su Yuxuan's spirits were unshaken. She hesitated about seeking Ye Chen but, given their dire straits—Su Yuxuan's strength a fraction of its former self, and her own soul form barely matching Golden Core power—they'd need Ye Chen to secure a high-grade core.

With a shift in direction, Manjusaka whisked Su Yuxuan toward the Wang residence.

…